What was the name of the ocean that surrounded Pangaea?

What was the name of the ocean that surrounded Pangaea?

• A. Panthalassa
• B. Atlantic Ocean
• C. Indian Ocean
• D. Pacific Ocean

Answer: (A)

The ocean that surrounded the supercontinent Pangaea is known as Panthalassa. This vast ocean covered much of the Earth's surface during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras. Panthalassa was significant in that it represented a single, massive body of water that played a crucial role in the distribution of marine life and the climate during the time when Pangaea existed. Unlike modern oceans such as the Atlantic, Indian, or Pacific Oceans, which were formed and defined after the breakup of Pangaea, Panthalassa existed prior to that division. Understanding the characteristics and the extent of Panthalassa helps in grasping the tectonic processes that shaped the Earth's continents and ocean basins over geological time.

The ocean that surrounded the supercontinent Pangaea is known as Panthalassa. This vast ocean covered much of the Earth's surface during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras. Panthalassa was significant in that it represented a single, massive body of water that played a crucial role in the distribution of marine life and the climate during the time when Pangaea existed.

Unlike modern oceans such as the Atlantic, Indian, or Pacific Oceans, which were formed and defined after the breakup of Pangaea, Panthalassa existed prior to that division. Understanding the characteristics and the extent of Panthalassa helps in grasping the tectonic processes that shaped the Earth's continents and ocean basins over geological time.