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]

Contents
 • 1See also
• 2References
• 3Further reading
• 4External links

See also[edit]
• Paleoclimatology: Study of ancient climates.
• Paleoecology: Study of interactions between organisms and their
environments across geologic timescales.
• Paleontology: Study of ancient life, often involving fossils and pollen
(palynology).
• Paleohydrology: Study of changes in hydrology over geological
timescales.
• Paleosol
• Physical geography
• Plate tectonics: Behavior of plates covering the surface of the Earth.

References[edit]
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.
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.

Further reading[edit]
• Irving, Edward (February 8, 2005). "The Role of Latitude in Mobilism
Debates". PNAS. 102 (6): 1821–
1828. Bibcode:2005PNAS..102.1821I. doi:10.1073/pnas.0408162101. P
MC 548542. PMID 15684058.