Climatology

This is one of the most compelling arguments supporting plate tectonic theory. Cold areas show evidence of once having been much warmer and warm areas show evidence of having been much colder. For example, coal is formed when excess organic material does not decay (this is common in swamps). It does not form in the areas of extreme cold.

Although Antarctica is extremely cold, it has huge coal deposits. This indicates that at one time in the past, Antarctica physically must have been much closer to the equator.