Wilson cycle

The Wilson cycle is a geological concept describing the process of ocean basin formation and destruction. Proposed by Tuzo Wilson, it explains how ancient oceans, like the one that formed the Appalachian-Caledonide mountain belt, closed through subduction and continental collision. This cycle involves the opening of an ocean basin, followed by its eventual closure and the amalgamation of continents. Evidence for these cycles is found in sedimentary rocks and geological formations dating back billions of years, suggesting that plate tectonics has been a fundamental process in Earth's evolution. The Wilson cycle is closely related to the supercontinent cycle, which describes the periodic assembly and breakup of continents over geological time.