Supercontinent Evolution

What is it about?

The evolution of the earth is marked by development of more than 70% of the present day continents during Archean. The Archean – Proterozoic boundary is characterized by continental amalgamation, and subsequent breaking and development of worldwide glaciations. The Paleoproterozoic time is characterized by change in atmospheric oxygen and intense biogenic activity during the early part, and amalgamation of the continents to form the supercontinent “Columbia”, development of sulphidic ocean chemistry and disappearance of major BIF deposit formation towards the later part. The evolution patterns during Mesoproterozoic are not well understood till the formation of the supercontinent “Rodinia” during the Grenville orogeny. The breaking of “Rodinia” was associated with worldwide glaciations, significant increase in atmospheric oxygen and bloom in biological activities. Paleozoic glaciations were also associated with the breaking of Pangea and Gondwanaland. Mass extinction events and appearance of new organisms were related to the changes in ocean chemistry. The thematic section of Geoscience Frontiers was planned to synthesize available information to understand the relationship between supercontinent evolution, and changes in atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere.

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Why is it important?

As understanding the evolution of continents, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and mineralization through time requires multidisciplinary approach, contributions were solicited from people involved in study of glaciations, ocean chemistry, paleo-biology, atmospheric chemistry, sedimentation processes, mineralization related to atmospheric-biospheric interaction, geophysical process for supercontinent development and field studies. The present thematic section includes four papers accepted after peer review process.