supercontinent cycle

noun

A quasiperiodic aggregation and dispersal of Earth's continental crust.

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Meanings

nounsupercontinent cycle (plural supercontinent cycles)

plural supercontinent cycles

  1. geographyA quasiperiodic aggregation and dispersal of Earth's continental crust.

    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.

    2009, Timothy M. Kusky, Encyclopedia of Earth Science, Infobase Publishing, →ISBN, page 412
Cite this entry
APA

supercontinent cycle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/supercontinent%20cycle

MLA

“supercontinent cycle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/supercontinent%20cycle. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “supercontinent cycle,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/supercontinent%20cycle.

Source: supercontinent cycle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.