Palaeogeography

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Not to be confused with Palaeography, the study of ancient handwriting.
Paleogeographic reconstruction showing the Appalachian Basin area during the Middle Devonian period.[1]

Palaeogeography (or paleogeography) is the study of historical geography, generally physical landscapes.[2] Palaeogeography can also include the study of human or cultural environments. When the focus is specifically on landforms, the term paleogeomorphology is sometimes used instead. Paleomagnetism, paleobiogeography, and tectonic history are among its main tools.

Paleogeography yields information that is crucial to scientific understanding in a variety of contexts. For example, paleogeographic analysis of sedimentary basins plays a key role in the field of petroleum geology, because ancient geomorphological environments of the Earth's surface are preserved in the stratigraphic record.[2][3] Paleogeographers also study the sedimentary environment associated with fossils for clues to the evolutionary development of extinct species.[3]

Paleogeographic evidence contributed to the development of continental drift theory, and continues to inform current plate tectonic theories, yielding information about the shape and latitudinal location of supercontinents such as Pangaea and ancient oceans such as Panthalassa, thus enabling reconstruction of prehistoric continents and oceans.[4]

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References[]

  1. ^ Blakey, Ron. "Paleogeography and Geologic Evolution of North America". Global Plate Tectonics and Paleogeography. Northern Arizona University. Archived from the original on 2008-06-21. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Stanley, Steven M. (2014-04-11). Earth system history. Luczaj, John A. (Fourth ed.). New York, NY. ISBN 978-1-4292-5526-4. OCLC 881875780.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Königshof, P. (2009). "Devonian change: case studies in palaeogeography and palaeoecology - an introduction". Geological Society, London, Special Publications. 314 (1): 1–6. Bibcode:2009GSLSP.314....1K. doi:10.1144/SP314.1. ISSN 0305-8719. S2CID 129313287.
  4. ^ Torsvik, Trond H. (2017). Earth history and palaeogeography. Cocks, L. R. M. (Leonard Robert Morrison), 1938-. Cambridge, United Kingdom. ISBN 978-1-107-10532-4. OCLC 968155663.

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