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Superocean

A superocean is an ocean that surrounds a supercontinent. It is less commonly defined as any ocean larger than the current Pacific Ocean.[1] Named global superoceans include Mirovia, which surrounded the supercontinent Rodinia, and Panthalassa, which surrounded the supercontinent Pangaea. Pannotia and Columbia, along with landmasses before Columbia (such as Ur and Kenorland), were also surrounded by superoceans.

Not to be confused with World Ocean.

As surface water moves unobstructed east to west in superoceans, it tends to warm from the exposure to sunlight so that the western edge of the ocean is warmer than the eastern. Additionally, seasonal changes in temperature, which would have been significantly more rapid inland, probably caused powerful monsoons. In general, however, the mechanics of superoceans are not well understood.[2]

Nealbara/Gyrosia (/Ur) (4.404–1.071 Ga)

Vaalbara

Lerova () (2.523–1.805 Ga)

Kenorland

Atlanta-Pacifica Ocean (Atlic Ocean) () (1.41–1.065 Ga)

Columbia

(Rodinia) (1,380–600 Ma)

Mirovia

(Rodinia/Pannotia) (987.5-605 Ma)

Pan-African Ocean

(Pannotia/Pangaea) (750–173 Ma)

Panthalassa

World Ocean

The dictionary definition of superocean at Wiktionary