mention the cause and effect of continental drifting?

Answer 1

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According to the theories laid down, all the continents were joined in a massive supercontinent called Pangaea in 1915.

Around 200 million years ago, Pangaea broke up into two smaller continents, the southern continent called Gondwanaland, and the northern continent called Laurasia.

Over time, these two landmasses began to split up into smaller continents, which moved in different directions. The continents moved with speeds ranging from 2.5 centimeters per year to 3 centimeters a year.

The continents are not fixed in their present positions, and appear to be still moving. The continents are resting on top of plates on the Earth's crust





When the edge of one plate meets another, the edge of one plate is either pulled down into the mantle, or is pushed up, causing mountains. For example, the Himalayan mountain range in Asia is believed to have been caused by contact between the Indian and Eurasian continental plates.

Earthquakes and tsuanamis, often occur along contact points between continent plates.

What could be causing this motion of such large landmasses? This question was the central sticking point of continental drift's acceptance, and a satisfactory answer was only given during the 1960's. The answer involved the idea by a Scottish geologist Arthur Holmes that hot rock rose up from the deeper levels of the Earth's mantle. The hot rock cooled as it neared the crust, and so, like hot and cold air, the cooler rock would sink back deeper into the mantle. This are called Convention Currents, and could be the cause of continental drift.

Oceanographers also gave more support to the continent drift idea, with their Theory of Sea Floor Spreading. They noted that volcanoes and undersea earthquakes often occurred along oceanic trenches. Oceanographers suggested at these trenches could be the edges of continental plates. They used the idea of convention currents in the Earth's mantle to suggest these currents would carry rock up to the underwater ridges between continental plates. As the rock hardens, it would push the plates apart, causing seismic activity and expanding the sea floor.

While many scientists accept the basic idea of continent drift, there is still many debates over the various details. However, continent drift has given a clear and consistent explanation for many of the happenings, which occur, in the Earth's crust.

Answer 2

The "cause" is the molten core of the Earth. The "tectonic plates" in essence "float" on top of a sea of liquid iron at the core of the Earth. This motion causes even the continents to slowly move. This results in volcanic activity, earthquakes, and the slow but steady changing of the land and sea maps of the Earth. All of the continents used to be together, but over billions of years have spread out to where they are today. Continental drift also has big impact on the life forms that appear in certain areas, for example, you don't see any koala bears in North or South American, except in zoos, as they have evolved separately from other life forms and are native only to Australia. Same thing with many flowering plants on Hawaii - they just aren't found anywhere else.

Answer 3

Continental drifting is caused by a lack of a continent's motivation and ambition.
The major effect of continental drifting is that they lay around the house all day, throwing dirty clothes on the floor, drinking beer, and belching and farting.

Answer 4

Movement of techtonic plates causes continental drifting.
In effect, we have more islands surronded by water.

Answer 5

That has caused the shape of the continents we have today.