The fit of the continents around the Atlantic

TLDR

The geometrical fit of continents now separated by oceans has long been discussed in relation to continental drift. The study aims to generate least‑squares numerical fits of Atlantic‑adjacent continents and use these preliminary geometrical matches to compare stratigraphy, structures, ages, and palaeomagnetic data across the joins. Numerical least‑squares fitting was applied to the continents around the Atlantic to assess their geometrical alignment. The optimal fit occurs at a 500 fm contour on the steep continental edge, yielding root‑mean‑square errors of 30–90 km for Africa–South America, Greenland–Europe, and North America–Greenland/Europe, while the South America–Africa versus Europe–North America–Greenland block shows a poorer fit with ~130 km misfit, and these results are unlikely to be due to chance.

Abstract

The geometrical fit of the continents now separated by oceans has long been discussed in relation to continental drift. This paper describes fits made by numerical methods, with a ‘least squares’ criterion of fit, for the continents around the Atlantic ocean. The best fit is found to be at the 500 fm. contour which lies on the steep part of the continental edge. The root-mean-square errors for fitting Africa to South America, Greenland to Europe and North America to Greenland and Europe are 30 to 90 km. These fits are thought not to be due to chance, though no reliable statistical criteria are available. The fit of the block assembled from South America and Africa to that formed from Europe, North America and Greenland is much poorer. The root-mean-square misfit is about 130 km. These geometrical fits are regarded as a preliminary to a comparison of the stratigraphy, structures, ages and palaeomagnetic results across the joins.