supercontinent cycle

English

Noun

supercontinent cycle (plural supercontinent cycles)

  1. (geology) A quasiperiodic aggregation and dispersal of Earth's continental crust.
    • 2009, Timothy M. Kusky, Encyclopedia of Earth Science, Infobase Publishing, →ISBN, page 412:
      The supercontinent cycle has many effects that greatly affect other Earth systems. First, the breakup of continents causes sudden bursts of heat release, associated with periods of increased, intensive magmatism.

Further reading
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