Lecture Notes: Continental Drift, Gondwana, and End-Cretaceous Extinction

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the video notes on continental drift, Gondwana, and the end-Cretaceous extinction.

Pangaea

The ancient supercontinent that joined nearly all Earth’s landmasses into one large landmass before they broke apart.

Continental drift

The theory that continents move relative to each other on the Earth's surface, leading to the breakup of Pangaea.

Gondwana

A southern supercontinent that included Africa, South America, Antarctica, Australia, and India before the continents split apart.

Breakup of Pangaea

The process by which the single supercontinent fragmented, creating separate landmasses and opening ocean basins such as the Atlantic.

North/South Atlantic opening

The formation of the Atlantic Ocean as continents moved apart, creating openings in the northern and southern regions.

Madagascar–India connection

India remained attached to Madagascar during the Gondwana era, illustrating close historical continental links.

South America–Antarctica connection

Evidence in the notes that South America was still connected to Antarctica during Gondwana.

Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event

A major mass extinction about 66 million years ago, wiping out many species including non‑avian dinosaurs.

End-Cretaceous CO2-driven warming

Massive release of carbon dioxide from heated sediments around the end-Cretaceous period, potentially warming the climate (up to about 8°C).