continental drift
[ˌkɑːntɪˈnɛntəl drɪft]
noun
deriva continental
1. The gradual movement of continents across the Earth's surface over geological time, caused by plate tectonics
Continental drift explains how South America and Africa were once connected.
A deriva continental explica como a América do Sul e a África estiveram uma vez conectadas.
2. The scientific theory proposed by Alfred Wegener that continents move slowly across the Earth's crust
Wegener's theory of continental drift was initially controversial but is now widely accepted.
A teoria da deriva continental de Wegener foi inicialmente controversa, mas agora é amplamente aceita.
Continental drift is a fundamental concept in modern geology taught in schools worldwide. In Brazil and Portugal, it's primarily used in scientific and educational contexts. The theory revolutionized Earth sciences in the 20th century and remains central to understanding plate tectonics, earthquakes, and mountain formation.
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