Theory of continental drift the continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20th century, mostly by alfred wegener. Later, seismometersinstruments that measure the motions of the groundand other technologies showed that continental drift was real. A brief overview of the theory of continental drift and the evidence supporting it. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangea based on fossil and rock evidence on the present day continents. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangaea based on fossil and rock evidence on the presentday continents. Continental drift theory no need to take notes i have taken them for you 2. A large super continent pangea split into smaller fragments about 200300 million years ago. Continental drift was a revolutionary scientific theory developed in the years 19081912 by alfred wegener 18801930, a german meteorologist, climatologist, and geophysicist, that put forth the hypothesis that the continents had all originally been a part of one enormous landmass or supercontinent about 240 million years ago before breaking apart and drifting to their current locations. Continental drift and plate tectonics kaiserscience. The book was revised in 1920, 1922 and 1929 in response to criticisms of the theory and advances in earth sciences. Subduction zone oceanic crust is heavier than continental crust.
Several types of evidence in rocks on land and on the seafloor and in the animal and plant kingdoms may be explained simply if we assume that the continents. In the early 1960s, the emergence of the theory of. Thus, proposed in 1912 by alfred wegener, continental drift theory explained why similar looking animal and plant fossils and similar rock formations are found on different continents. Continental drift timeline activity sheet continental. According to wegeners continental drift theory, all the continents were one single continental mass called a super continent pangaea and a mega ocean surrounded this supercontinent. The concept was independently and more fully developed by alfred wegener in 1912, but his theory was rejected by many for. The speculation that continents might have drifted was first put forward by abraham ortelius in 1596. He had previously worked out two critical problems. As stated before the theory of continental drift has strong points of evidence one being the physical feature, how all of the continents, for the most part, fit together like puzzle pieces for example, africa and south america. This video explores how the apparent fit of the continents, fossil and rock correlation, and paleoclimate data. Color the legend on the puzzle pieces handout according to the key. Historical geologycontinental drift wikibooks, open books. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Continental drift read earth science ck12 foundation.
A brief introduction to alfred wegeners theory of continental drift, which would lay the groundwork for the development of plate tectonic theory, which essentially explains the. In this article i analyse continental drift debates. Dec 16, 2019 continental drift refers to the movement of the continents relative to each other. Some of the fossil evidence discovered on the continents includes mesosaurus, lystosaurus. Evidence for continental drift wegener gathered evidence for his hypothesis from fossils, from studies of ancient climate, and from the geology of continents. There are various examples of fossils found on separate continents and in no other regions. 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. In some places, it slides under the continental crust and. Wegener said that continents move around on earths surface and that they were once joined together as a single supercontinent. The widespread distribution of certain plant groups correlates rather nicely with plate tectonics. 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. Trained as a meteorologist, he was intrigued by the interlocking fit of africa. 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. A map of the continents inspired wegeners quest to explain earths geologic history.
He wrote the origin of continents and oceans dealing with the theory in 1915. Since the development of the theory, geologists have had to reexamine almost every aspect of. More indepth questions can be asked during the explanation. He then gathered an impressive amount of evidence to show that earths continents were once connected in a single supercontinent. In 1967, mckenzie and parker suggested the theory of plate tectonics. Oct 12, 2018 a brief overview of the theory of continental drift and the evidence supporting it. Continental drift p95 red book, 182 in sciencesaurus theory that continents were once part of a single landmass that broke apart and have moved to their present locations. Pdf alfred wegenerfrom continental drift to plate tectonics. Macdonald, in handbook of gold exploration and evaluation, 2007. Continental drift refers to the movement of the continents relative to each other. His proposition was that pangaea had since split apart, the continents moving into their.
First he dated the earth by using uranium radioactive decay to lead which incidentally supported continental drift and second he showed where. Alfred wegener, pangea, and the evidence for continental. As indicated earlier, although a broad array of evidence provided by wegener and his predecessors gave a strong indication of wegener. From this he began plotting worldwide distributions of both rock and. Nov 29, 2012 a brief introduction to alfred wegeners theory of continental drift, which would lay the groundwork for the development of plate tectonic theory, which essentially explains the geology of the earth. Thus, proposed in 1912 by alfred wegener, continental drift theory explained why similar looking animal and plant fossils and similar. Pangea supercontinent map description in ramayana puranas is part of plate tectonics pangea supercontinent map, facts of its division into multiple continents years ago by ancestors of rama, described in sanskrit poem. Fossils exist in geographic patterns this pattern implies that all of the continents must have once laid together. The continental drift hypothesis states that the position of the continents on the earths surface has changed considerably over time. Physical science concepts by mason, griffen, merrill and thorne. 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. Seafloor spreading theory sfst seafloor spreading describes the movement of.
A glance at a world map shows that it looks like the americas and the old world once fitted together. Wegener and his theory of continental drift indian academy of. Today, the theory of continental drift has been replaced by the science of plate tectonics. 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. According to the hypothesis of continental drift, continents have moved slowly to their current locations.
Continental drift, largescale horizontal movements of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time. This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it. The theory of continental drift continental drift discovery the world alfred wegener theory of continental drift continental drift p95 red book, 182 in sciencesaurus theory that continents were once part of a single landmass that broke apart and have moved to their present locations. Fossils certain fossils preserved in rocks of the same age but from different continents. The coasts of the continents surrounding the atlantic ocean could, if the continents were moved closer, fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. In 1915 a meteorologist, alfred wegener 1912, published the concept of continental drift and of a supercontinent comprising all of the worlds continents merged into a single mass, which he called pangaea. Continental drift illuminates wegeners continental drift hypothesis and his supporting evidence including the distribution of fossils, rocks, structures, and the climate zones. Each inb activity is designed to help students compartmentalize information for a greater understanding of the concept. Evidence of continental drift pdf while the observations in favor of continental drift were not accumulated all at. Mesosaurus small fresh water reptile glossopteris plant remains. Antony joseph, in investigating seafloors and oceans, 2017. Use those same colors to color each type of fossil or mountain belt according to your legend. In other words, the paleomagnetic evidence appears to.
He had no satisfactory mechanism to offer, but appealed. Continental drift describes one of the earliest ways geologist s thought continent s moved over time. Continental drift is the motion of the earths continents over geological time. The theory has caused a revolution in the way we think about the earth. At the time of his death in 1930, the technology needed to validate continental drift was still decades away. Today, by measuring the submerged borders of the continental shelf rather than the coastline, and by using computers and the result in spherical. Continental drift wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics. Continental drift an overview sciencedirect topics. Continental drift evidence shape of continents hypothesis earths continents have moved. On the puzzle pieces handout, assign a color to each type of fossil or mountain belt in the legend and color the areas on the landmasses according to the legend. Theory of continental was purposed by alferedwegner in 1912 3. These then drifted apart to form the present arrangement of continents. What are six things that supported wegeners theory of continental drift. We have learned that rock samples containing magnetic. Historical geologycontinental drift wikibooks, open. According to the theory of plate tectonics, the earths lithosphere is broken into distinct plates which are. Evidence of continental drift pdf free download as pdf file. The theory of continental drift is most associated with the scientist alfred wegener. Evidence for continental drift a map of the continents inspired wegeners quest to explain earths geologic history. 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.
Continental drift theory evidences and limitations. The shape of continental coastlines visibly matched up like pieces of the puzzle. When continental drift was first proposed, the arguments rested on four key pieces of evidence. Another important piece of evidence in the continental drift theory is the fossil relevance.
The concept was independently and more fully developed by alfred wegener. Wegener explicitly presented his theory as a means to reconcile historical geology with isostasy. The continental drift theory inb template allows students to focus their notes on alfred wegener, continental drift theory, pangaea, and the 3 pieces of evidence. What evidence is there of the continental drift theory. As you read about the evidence that supports the hypothesis of continental drift, complete the graphic organizer.
Dec 19, 2017 evidence for continental drift a map of the continents inspired wegeners quest to explain earths geologic history. Fossils wegener learned that the fossils of an ancient reptile, mesosaurus mehzuhsawruhs, had been discovered in south america and western africa. Continental drift timeline activity sheet continental drift. In the early 20th century, wegener published a paper explaining.
One indication of this possibility is the appearance of the western african and eastern south american coasts, which look like two interlocking jigsaw. Wegener first presented his theory of continental drift publicly in a lecture on january 6, 1912. Continental drift and plate tectonics university of iceland. Plate tectonics it was from the continental drift theory, convection current theory and the theory of seafloor spreading, the theory of plate tectonics was formulated. Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics plate tectonics is a theory developed in the late 1960s, to explain how the outer layers of the earth move and deform. Continental drift, largescale horizontal movement of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time. 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. Pdf styles of thought on the continental drift debate. Who proposed the theory and what evidence did he provide to prove his theory.
The shapes of the continents seemed to fit together. As indicated earlier, although a broad array of evidence provided by wegener and his predecessors gave a strong indication of wegeners farreaching hypothesis of continental drift, reliable hypotheses or. 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. Wegener also provided evidence of continental drift by looking at the physical shape of continental coastlines. Pdf what is the nature of the force or mechanism that moves massive continents thousands of miles across. Although wagners initial theory did not cover mantle convection until arthur holmes later proposed the theory. Therefore, rationalist approaches suggest that evidence can be enough by itself to close scientific controversies. The evidence which gave rise to the theory of continental drift more correctly called plate tectonics includes the following.
Dec 17, 2019 plate tectonics it was from the continental drift theory, convection current theory and the theory of seafloor spreading, the theory of plate tectonics was formulated. For example, there are three families of cycads, the cycadaceae, stangeriaceae and zamiaceae, which include a total of 185 species in 11 genera. For example, the continents of south america and africa fit perfectly when brought together. Alfred was trying to get his girlfriends father to like him. Plate tectonics and continental drift theory plate tectonics was born in 1968 in the form of a theory of the evolution of.
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