TED-Ed: The continents are moving. When will they collide? | Jean-Baptiste P. Koehl

The video explores Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift, which challenged the belief that continents were static. It laid the groundwork for plate tectonics, explaining how Earth's crust is divided into moving plates. Geologists use magnetic fields and fossils to trace plate movements, revealing patterns like the Wilson cycle, which predicts future supercontinents. These movements can cause environmental changes, such as the snowball Earth event. Future supercontinents may release greenhouse gases, but innovative solutions like carbon storage in basalt could mitigate these effects.

What theory did Alfred Wegener propose regarding the continents?

How do geologists trace the position of continents over time?

What is the Wilson cycle and what does it predict?

What environmental changes occurred when the Rodinia supercontinent broke up?

What potential solutions are being explored to mitigate emissions related to future supercontinents?