Wegener supported his argument with five lines of evidence. The theory of continental drift is most associated with the scientist alfred wegener. What evidence is there of the continental drift theory. Continental drift earth science flashcards quizlet. Ancient climates climate evidence proves a shift in continental position over time i. Color the legend on the puzzle pieces handout according to the key. This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it. Are evidence for continental drift includes several fossil organisms found on different landmasses. The man my teacher mentioned, alfred wegener vay gen ner, developed the continental drift theory in 1915. Jack oliver jack oliver provided a research paper on plate tectonics that proved vital in providing hard evidence for the existence of continental drift, which was released in 1968. One of the most important contributions to the development of plate tectonic theory was alfred wegeners 1915 publication of the origin of continents and oceans which outlined his theory of continental drift.
Defining continental drift continental drift is the gradual movement of the continents over time. Many in the scientific community of the day criticized it, yet today it is the accepted view by mainstream science. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangea based on fossil and rock evidence on the present day continents. Continental drift refers to the movement of the continents relative to each other. In the face of such evidence one is forced to the conclusion that the protectionists desire only to serve. Continental drift theory continental drift is the hypothesis that all the continents had once been joined together in a single landmass. The coasts of the continents surrounding the atlantic ocean could fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangaea based on fossil and rock evidence on the presentday continents. This was the time when reptiles and winged insects first appeared. Set forth in 1912 by alfred wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also. The speculation that continents might have drifted was first put forward by abraham ortelius in 1596. Continental drift theory peninsular india paleontological evidence. In this article we will discuss about continental drift. Describe the crust as broken into pieces called tectonic plates.
Rock types and structures rock evidence for continental drift exists in the form of several mountain belts that end at one coastline, only to reappear on a landmass across the ocean. It is thought that all the continents were once joined together in one supercontinent, named pangaea. Explanation of the continental drift theory in the light of vertebrate distribution. The theory of continental drift was first proposed by alfred wegener in 1912. Review of paleoclimate and continental drift sciencedirect. Until the idea of continental drift was put forth by hess, wegener was largely disregarded as a fool. Fossils wegener learned that the fossils of an ancient reptile, mesosaurus mehzuhsawruhs, had been discovered in south america and western africa. Thus, proposed in 1912 by alfred wegener, continental drift theory explained why similar looking animal and plant fossils and similar. Most scientists in wegeners time supported his continental drift hypothesis. The 1968 paper finally proved wegener right and continental drift was accepted by the world of science.
Continental drift plates in the crust of the earth, according to the plate tectonics theory from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia continental drift is the movement of the earths continents relative to each other. The coasts of the continents surrounding the atlantic ocean could, if the continents were moved closer, fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. That the continents of the world all started together in a single landmass, and have since drifted apart. Continental drift is defined as the motion of the earths continents over a defined period of time. If you look at a map of the world, you might notice what alfred wegener noticed that the continents look as if they could fit together like a big jigsaw puzzle if you were able to move them around. From this he began plotting worldwide distributions of both rock and. The earths continents have not always been where they are at present.
There one sees the names of the protectionists who signed col. Although the evidence was extremely strong, scientists did not yet know how continents could move, so most rejected the idea. Thanks wegener collected ancient climate information to confirm his glacial data. Polar wandering similar to continental drift theory polar wandering is the relative movement of the earths crust and upper mantle with respect to the rotational poles of the earth. As a meteorologist alfred wegener was well aware of some climatological puzzles, such as the remains of temperate climate trees that can be found under polar ice. Priors nomination paper and among them are those of such thorough going supporters of mongolian labour as james duns muir, john bryden, joseph hunter and t. The top layer of the earths crust is broken up into large slabs called plates that sit on a fluid level of molten rock.
Continental drift theory no need to take notes i have taken them for you 2. Co32 derived from the foraminiferal boron to calcium ratio bca pro vides evidence for greater iceage storage of respired co2 and also reveal s abrupt deglacial shifts in inorganic carbon chemistry up to 30 molkg 5 times larger than the difference between average lgm and holocene values. The evidence for tectonic plate motion was radical in the early and midtwentieth century. Some of the fossil evidence discovered on the continents includes mesosaurus, lystosaurus.
He believed that earth contains a plate which move one place to another. But it was the americans who came down hardest against continental drift. Use those same colors to color each type of fossil or mountain belt according to your legend. Imdb new releases free ebook download as text file.
More evidence still, wegener did have some evidence working in his favor during his own time. The evidence which gave rise to the theory of continental drift more correctly called plate tectonics includes the following. Potential evidence for the theory of continental drift description quality interpretation by 1900 and as early as 1596, several scientists had noted that the coastlines of continents on the two sides of the atlantic ocean basin appeared to fit together, most notably africa and south america. This indicates that these continents had to be once joined together because the extensive oceans between these land masses act as a type of barrier for fossil. Continental drift describes one of the earliest ways geologist s thought continent s moved over time. Continental drift, largescale horizontal movements of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time. Continental drift is a theory originally proposed by alfred wegener, who believed the continents were once one large continent known as pangaea that later separated into several continents. Introduction to theory and evidence of continental drift. My friends and i are here to present my theory of continental drift, which i published in the year 1915. Continental drift wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
They are carried by immense forces generated by convection currents in the liquid rock in the mantle of the planet. Continental drift is the theory that the earths continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have drifted across the ocean bed. Fossils fossils of the same animals were found on many. Fossils certain fossils preserved in rocks of the same age but from different continents. On the puzzle pieces handout, assign a color to each type of fossil or mountain belt in. Evidence for continental drift wegener gathered evidence for his hypothesis from fossils, from studies of ancient climate, and from the geology of continents. Continental drift alfred wegener teaching resources. One indication of this possibility is the appearance of the western african and eastern south american coasts, which look like two interlocking jigsaw. He tried to explain how the earth drifted apart, but he was unable to give a. Mesosaurus small fresh water reptile glossopteris plant remains. Continental drift or movement of tectonic plate first introduce by wegener, 1920. Another important piece of evidence in the continental drift theory is the fossil relevance. Evidence for continental drift match each term with the best descriptor below.
When continental drift was considered pseudoscience. There are various examples of fossils found on separate continents and in no other regions. Although the evidence for continental drift was extremely strong, scientists rejected the idea because no mechanism for how solid continents could move around on the. Continental drift theory evidences and limitations. Wegners evidence for continental drift through convection currents. Continental drift notes 92014 theory of continental drift. Living animals in widely separated lands are similar. Fossils of creatures and plants discovered on different continents helped to him push his case that the continents were once locked together before breaking up and drifting away. The rigid lithosphere is split into 7 major plates that slowly move. Your point about weight being a premium makes me think that you may be focusing on the wrong stuff. Continental drift a2 geography linkedin slideshare. Paleoclimatic data to be useful in the evaluation of continental drift models must generally be quantitative and globally distributed. Wegener could not propose a mechanism capable of moving the continents.
Plate tectonics is the theory used to explain the structure of the earths crust and many of the associated phenomena. For the glaciers to have been present with the continents in their current positions, much of the world should have been under ice. Wheels are probably going to make the biggest difference to your son. He then gathered an impressive amount of evidence to show that earths continents were once connected in a single supercontinent. Seafloor spreading theory sfst seafloor spreading describes the movement of. Explain that convection currents within the earths mantle driven by heat released by natural radioactive processes because the plates to move at relative speeds of a few centimeters per year. Learning objectives learn who alfred wegener was and state the theory of continental drift. Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on earths surface. The movement of this lower molten layer causes the plates to shift. In the early 20th century, wegener published a paper explaining. Evidence of the continental drift essay example graduateway. Alfred wegener and continental drift it was not until 1912 that the idea of moving continents was seriously considered as a fullblown scientific theory called continental drift introduced in two articles published by a 32yearold german meteorologist named alfred lothar wegener alfred lothar wegener 18801930 earned a. The evidence for continental drift included the fit of the continents.
The validation of continental drift stephen jay gould. Critics had about wegeners continental drift hypothesis. Continental drift and plate tectonics university of iceland. To learn about the continental drift theory and the evidence that supports it. The concept was independently and more fully developed by alfred wegener in 1912, but his theory was rejected by many for. Scientists can observe these movements using satellite images that show, for example, that the north.
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