During the Permian all the Earth's major land masses, except portions of East Asia, were collected into a single supercontinent known as Pangaea. Pangaea straddled the equator and extended toward the poles, with a corresponding effect on ocean currents in the single great ocean (Panthalassa, the universal sea), and the Paleo-Tethys Ocean, a large ocean that was between Asia and Gondwana. The Cimmeria continent rifted away from Gondwana and drifted north to Laurasia, causing the Paleo-Tethys to shrink. A new ocean was growing on its southern end, the Tethys Ocean, an ocean that would dominate much of the Mesozoic Era. Large continental landmasses create climates with extreme variations of heat and cold ("continental climate") and monsoon conditions with highly seasonal rainfall patterns. Deserts seem to have been widespread on Pangaea. COUNT 5
QSN1 What supercontinent prevailed during the Permian era? ANS1 Pangaea QSN2 What was the largest ocean during the Permian called? ANS2 Panthalassa QSN3 There was an ocean between Gondwana and Asia in the Permian, what was it? ANS3 Paleo-Tethys Ocean QSN4 The moving of which continent contributed to the decrease in size of the Paleo-Tethys? ANS4 Cimmeria QSN5 During which period was the Tehtys Ocean dominant? ANS5 the Mesozoic Era