PANTHALASSIC OCEAN Meaning and
Definition
-
The term "panthalassic ocean" refers to a prehistoric superocean that is believed to have surrounded the supercontinent Pangaea and existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras. The word "panthalassic" is derived from the Greek words "pan" meaning "all" and "thalassa" meaning "sea."
This vast body of water covered a significant portion of the Earth's surface, and it is commonly described as a global ocean since it connected all the major ocean basins of the time. The panthalassic ocean played a crucial role in shaping Earth's geography, climate, and the evolution of marine life during this period.
As Pangaea started to break apart and the continents began to drift, the panthalassic ocean gradually receded, undergoing significant changes. The formation of new ocean basins ultimately led to the disappearance of the panthalassic ocean as it transformed into the individual Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and other modern-day oceans we now know.
The study of the panthalassic ocean is vital for understanding the Earth's geological history, as it offers insights into ancient plate tectonics, paleoclimatic conditions, and the distribution of habitats for marine organisms. Geological evidence like sedimentary rocks, fossils, and paleomagnetic data have provided valuable information for scientists to reconstruct the existence and characteristics of the panthalassic ocean.
Etymology of PANTHALASSIC OCEAN
The word "panthalassic ocean" comes from the Greek word "panthalassa" (πανθάλασσα), which translates to "all seas" or "universal sea". "Pan" (πάν) means "all" and "thalassa" (θάλασσα) means "sea" in Greek. The term was coined by the geologist Antonio Snider-Pellegrini in the 19th century to describe the ancient global ocean that surrounded the supercontinent Pangaea.
