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MillionYrsFromNow
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Sorry, very stupid question though, but will our continents drift and join together trillion years later on ? thank you.
MillionYrsFromNow said:Sorry, very stupid question though, but will our continents drift and join together trillion years later on ? thank you.
I find it highly unlikely. One of the factors contributing to continental drift (one of the factors about which geologists are quite certain) is the fact that heat gets trapped under continents. Heat escaping from the mantle radiates outward through the crust of the earth. Where the continents protrude up out of the oceans, the crust is thicker, so the heat does not radiate out as rapidly as it does in places where the crust is thinner. The continents behave like a blanket, trapping the heat in.matthyaouw said:I don't know about a trillion years on, but continental drift could allow continents to merge back together to form a supercontinent, much like the old supercontinent of Pangea. Its not certain, as predicting the movement of tectonic plates in the distant future isn't possible.
No, it is highly unlikely that all the continents will merge into one large landmass in the future. The process of continental drift, which is responsible for the movement of continents, is a very slow process that takes millions of years. Additionally, the current distribution of continents is a result of the Earth's unique tectonic plates and their movement, which is constantly changing and may not result in a single landmass.
Yes, it is possible that new continents may form in the future. Continents are created through the process of continental rifting, where tectonic plates move apart and new landmasses are formed. This process is currently happening in the East African Rift, which could potentially lead to the formation of a new continent in the future.
Yes, the continents will continue to drift apart in the future. This is due to the constant movement of tectonic plates, which is driven by the Earth's internal heat and convection currents in the mantle. However, the rate of drift is very slow, typically only a few centimeters per year.
No, humans do not have the ability to influence the movement of continents. The process of continental drift is a natural geological process that is driven by forces within the Earth. While human activities such as mining and oil drilling may cause small-scale disturbances, they do not have a significant impact on the movement of continents.
Yes, it is possible that the continents may rejoin to form a supercontinent in the future. This has happened multiple times in Earth's history, with the most recent supercontinent being Pangaea, which existed around 335 million years ago. However, the exact timing and configuration of future supercontinents is uncertain and will depend on the movement of tectonic plates.