The coasts of the continents surrounding the atlantic ocean could, if the continents were moved closer, fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. In this article we will discuss about continental drift. 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. This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it. Mesosaurus small fresh water reptile glossopteris plant remains. Dec 19, 2017 continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on earths surface. The evidence for tectonic plate motion was radical in the early and midtwentieth century. Naomi 2002, continental drift pdf, archived from the original pdf on 4 february 2012. 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. Continental drift, largescale horizontal movement of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time. Continental drift, largescale horizontal movement of continents relative to.
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. Fossils wegener learned that the fossils of an ancient reptile, mesosaurus mehzuhsawruhs, had been discovered in south america and western africa. 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. There is also much climate evidence supporting continental drift, most notable of which is glacial activity. The apparent north pole for europe and north america if the continents were always in their current locations.
Fossils certain fossils preserved in rocks of the same age but from different continents. Evidence for continental drift theory flashcards quizlet. Continental drift theory states that the continents have not always been in their present locations but. In the early 1960s, the emergence of the theoryof plate tectonicsstarted a revolution in the earth sciences. Theory of plate tectonics when the concept of seafloor spreading came along, scientists recognized that it was the mechanism to explain how continents could move around earths surface. Start studying evidence for continental drift theory. Another indication of continental drift is tectonic activity and seafloor spreading. He put together the evidence of ancient glaciations and the distribution of fossil to. As molten rock rises from the earth, it forms new crust between the plates.
Continental drift an overview sciencedirect topics. Apr 03, 2020 he called his hypothesis continental drift. 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. Wegener then assembled an impressive amount of evidence to show that. But the arguments for continental motions did not gel until the 1960s, when a drastic expansion of geophysical research, driven by the cold war, produced evidence that reopened and eventually. This evidence for continental drift gave geologists renewed interest in understanding how continents could move about on the planets surface. Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the. Although he presented much evidence for continental drift, he was unable to provide a convincing explanation for. Fossils of same creature have been found on different continents that are separated today but were once joined. Many in the scientific community of the day criticized it, yet today it is the accepted view by mainstream science.
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. Continental drift wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Introduction to theory and evidence of continental drift. Continental landform, any conspicuous topographic feature on the largest land areas of the earth. Fossils exist in geographic patterns this pattern implies that all of the continents must have once laid together. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Wegeners preeminent scientific legacy, however, is.
Wegeners theory of continental drift could not be taken seriously because he did not present it as a proven theory, nor did he have factual evidence that clearly stated why his theory could be true. In 1915 a meteorologist, alfred wegener 1912, published the concept of continental drift and of a supercontinent comprising all of the worlds continents merged. Evidence of the continental drift essay example graduateway. Alfred was trying to get his girlfriends father to like him. Physical science concepts by mason, griffen, merrill and thorne.
Continental drift a brief history of continental drift theories continued 1944 arthur holmes suggests a mechanism for continental drift based on convection currents in the earths mantle. Wegners evidence for continental drift through convection currents. Until the idea of continental drift was put forth by hess, wegener was largely disregarded as a fool. Continental drift theory no need to take notes i have taken them for you 2. What evidence is there of the continental drift theory. Vocabulary word to know resource exploitation resource use sustainability land use native species introduced species. Alfred wegener 18801930 was a leading explorer, geophysicist, and meteorologist from germany, and pioneer in the exploration of greenland.
Familiar examples are mountains including volcanic cones, plateaus, and valleys. Continental drift and plate tectonics kaiserscience. This was the time when reptiles and winged insects first appeared. Evidence for the mechanism of continental drift video. Wegeners preeminent scientific legacy, however, is the continental drift hypothesis. The term landform also can be applied to related features that occur on the floor of the earths ocean basins, as. Theory of continental was purposed by alferedwegner in 1912 3. According to the hypothesis of continental drift, continents have moved slowly to their current locations. Continental drift notes 92014 theory of continental drift. When continental drift was first proposed, the arguments rested on four key pieces of evidence. More evidence still, wegener did have some evidence working in.
Scientists can observe these movements using satellite images that show, for example, that the north. They are carried by immense forces generated by convection currents in the liquid rock in the mantle of the planet. The speculation that continents might have drifted was first put forward by abraham ortelius in 1596. To learn about the continental drift theory and the evidence that supports it. The continental drift theory was further developed after these findings and became the foundations of plate tectonics theory. Pdf a historical account of how continental drift and plate tectonics. The theory of continental drift was not generally accepted, particularly by american geologists, until the 1950s and 60s, when a group of british geophysicists reported on magnetic studies of rocks from many places and from each major division of geologic time. Through the theory of continental drift, humans have been able to figure out how the earths crust moves and the causes of volcanoes, earthquakes, oceanic trenches, formation of mountain ranges and other geological occurrences. Continental drift refers to the movement of the continents relative to each other. Scientists agree that continents rest on rocks called tectonic plates, which shift and move. Besides the fit of the continents, wegener and his supporters collected a great deal of evidence for the continental drift hypothesis. High school earth sciencecontinental drift wikibooks, open. The term landform also can be applied to related features that occur on.
Sea floor spreading further supports the continental drift theory. What is presented below is therefore by no means the whole or even the majority of the evidence for continental drift. In the 1960s the process of seafloor spreading was discovered which provided a mechanism for continental drift. Fossils, puzzle fit, glacial grooves, rock strata, mountain belts. There are various examples of fossils found on separate continents and in no other regions.
Another important piece of evidence in the continental drift theory is the fossil relevance. Set forth in 1912 by alfred wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also. Evidence for continental drift wegener gathered evidence for his hypothesis from fossils, from studies of ancient climate, and from the geology of continents. What are four pieces of evidence for continental drift. Jan 14, 20 wegners evidence for continental drift through convection currents. 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. For example, there are three families of cycads, the cycadaceae, stangeriaceae and zamiaceae, which include a total of 185 species in 11 genera. Explanation of the continental drift theory in the light of vertebrate distribution. The two paths merge into one if the continents are allowed to drift.
Plate tectonics is the theory that explains how large pieces of the earths outermost layer, called tectonic plates, move and change shape. We now know that, directly or indirectly, plate tectonics influences nearly all geologic processes, past and present. Continental drift is defined as the motion of the earths continents over a defined period of time. More evidence still, wegener did have some evidence working in his favor during his own time. Although all of the continents could fit together like a puzzle, this is simply not enough evidence for such a large theory of science. Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift. The theory of continental drift is defined as the movement of the earths continents relative to each other, thereby appearing to drift together across the oceanic bed.
Wegener found that this evidence was best explained if the continents had at one time been joined together. The concept was independently and more fully developed by alfred wegener in 1912, but his theory was rejected. Alfred wegener was the developer of a new theory of the earths surface called continental drift, and he was an adept investigator, but he passed away in 1930 with his. Argument against continental drift lucy sebranek extension. Continental drift article about continental drift by the. Continental drift theory continental drift is the hypothesis that all the continents had once been joined together in a single landmass. Write the evidence in a graphic organizer like the one below. That the continents of the world all started together in a single landmass, and have since drifted apart. Fossils fossils of the same animals were found on many. From this he began plotting worldwide distributions of both rock and fossil data that indicated tropic, desert and polar climates. Like the scientists before us, we will now merge the ideas of continental drift and seafloor spreading into the theory of plate tectonics. It is thought that all the continents were once joined together in one supercontinent, named pangaea. This evidence included the fit of the continents, fossils, rock types, structural similarities between continents, and paleoclimates.
The evidence which gave rise to the theory of continental drift more correctly called plate tectonics includes the following. Mar 12, 2020 continental drift, largescale horizontal movement of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time. The widespread distribution of certain plant groups correlates rather nicely with plate tectonics. Evidence for continental drift besides the way the continents fit together, wegener and his supporters collected a great deal of evidence for the continental drift hypothesis. Continental drift theory states that the continents have not always been in their present locations but have drifted there over millions of years. Continental drift is the motion of the earths continents over geological time. Although alfred wegener was able to produce a viable hypothesis with evidence and.
Historical geologycontinental drift wikibooks, open books. Continental drift is the theory that the continents were once joined as pangea and have since drifted apart to modern day positions. The fossils of these organisms are found on lands that are now far apart. His seminal volume of meteorology is universally considered a fundamental manual for this discipline and was long a reference text for students and specialists. He first presented his thesis to the scientific community on 6 january 1912 at the geological society of frankfurt am main, but his famous monograph on the subject dates to 1915. Identifying supporting evidence as you read, identify the evidence that supports the hypothesis of continental drift. Ive found a lot of evidence supporting continental drift rocks, plants, animal, shapes, ice matches and the climate but. Jan 04, 2016 introduction to theory and evidence of continental drift. Nov 20, 2015 wegeners preeminent scientific legacy, however, is the continental drift hypothesis. Wegener is the first to combine the most diverse geological sensu lato evidences in a single great synthesis. Chapter 1 from continental drift to plate tectonics naomi oreskes since the l6th century, cartographers have noticed the jigsawpuzzle fit of the continental edges. Continental drift is the theory that the earths continents have moved over geologic time relative. Identical rocks, of the same type and age, are found on both sides of the atlantic ocean. In the 1950s palaeomagnetism provided evidence supporting continental drift.
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