Question

The opening of Drake Passage about 41 million years ago caused a fundamental reorganization of ocean currents leading to the isolation of ________, which caused it to become much cooler.

Answer 1

Antarctica

Step-by-step explanation:

The Drake passage refers to the water route that connects the southern part of South America and Antarctica. This passage was created long back, about 41 million years back. Before the creation of this passage, the region of Antarctica experienced a warmer type of climate.

The circumpolar Antarctic ocean current traveled through this passage, running in a clockwise pattern around Antarctica and it separated the Sub Antarctic warm water from the colder Antarctic current. This circumpolar Antarctic current is also considered as the West wind drift and this current maintains the extensively large ice sheets that are present currently, experiencing a much lower temperature.

Thus, the Drake passage separated Antarctica from the southern part of South America.