BBC2 'Earth'

[Simpo Two]

When Chris Packham was building up to naming the great supercontinent from which all others derived, I was expecting him to say Pangea. Except he said Rodinia, which I'd never heard of.

And then what of Gondwanaland? Are these all names for the same thing but being 'revised' every few years?

[essayer]

Rodinia became Pannotia which became Pangaea

[louiechevy]

There's been several supercontinents in earths history pangaea being the most recent, Rodinia pre dating it by well a lot I believe there's more that pre date that as well.

[Simpo Two]

So do you mean that the first supercontinent broke up, then reformed and got a new name, rinse and repeat several times with a new name time?

If so perhaps all the continents will drift together again, maybe on the other side of the world, for 'Supercontinent 6'!

[Super Sonic]

I am always amused when they say "...continent Which Was Called...".
Surely they mean "... continent which we now call..."

[louiechevy]

Pangaea Proxima is the name for the next possible future supercontinent, so yes they have projected the movement of the continental plates into the future and that could possibly form in the next 250 million years. Of course it might not it's all hypothetical.

[Eric Mc]

The continents are floating on a bed of mantle and they have been on the move since they were formed over 4 billion years ago.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

The continents are floating on a bed of mantle and they have been on the move since they were formed over 4 billion years ago.

Yes, what I hadn't considered was they apparently bounce back and forth like snooker balls on a table...

[Halmyre]

Simpo Two said:

Eric Mc said:

The continents are floating on a bed of mantle and they have been on the move since they were formed over 4 billion years ago.

Yes, what I hadn't considered was they apparently bounce back and forth like snooker balls on a table...

More like clotting together and then breaking apart along new faults, like the Great Rift Valley which is splitting Africa apart.

[Eric Mc]

Someone once described the continents as being like the skin on a rice pudding.

[hondajack85]

I watche this before but cant remember which episode he said the whole earth was miles thick in decaying veg then vocanic ash settled over it and crushed it down making fossil fuels today.
Would indicate there is an inexhaustable supply of fuel down there.

[Eric Mc]

hondajack85 said:

I watche this before but cant remember which episode he said the whole earth was miles thick in decaying veg then vocanic ash settled over it and crushed it down making fossil fuels today.
Would indicate there is an inexhaustable supply of fuel down there.

Except much of it is totally inaccessible due to the depth it lies at.