黑料网

Abstract

The evolution of Earth's surface has been profoundly influenced by the processes of continental drift and plate tectonics. This review traces the historical development of these two pivotal geological theories, beginning with Alfred Wegener's early 20th-century hypothesis of continental drift, which proposed that continents were once part of a supercontinent called Pangaea. Despite initial skepticism due to a lack of a driving mechanism, the theory laid the groundwork for the more comprehensive theory of plate tectonics, established in the mid-20th century. Plate tectonics explains the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates driven by convection currents in the mantle. The theory accounts for geological phenomena such as mountain formation, earthquakes, volcanism, and ocean basin expansion. Evidence from seafloor spreading, paleomagnetism, and fossil records has solidified plate tectonics as a unifying framework for understanding Earth's dynamic surface. This article reviews the impact of these movements on the planet's geological history and examines ongoing tectonic processes that continue to shape the Earth’s future.