This evidence shows that continental drift happens at an extremely slow pace. In this activity students examine 7 lines of evidence in support for the theory of continental drift. Pdf styles of thought on the continental drift debate. 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. Fossils of a freshwater reptile known as mesosaurus was found both in south africa and brazil. Pdf alfred wegenerfrom continental drift to plate tectonics. Continental drift theory evidences and limitations question throw some light on theory of continental drift.
The theory of continental drift was first proposed by alfred wegener in 1912. Jan 14, 2018 wegener pursued four lines of evidence to support continental drift and the existence of the supercontinent, pangaea. War ii, the united states office of naval research had been supporting seafloor studies. Until the idea of continental drift was put forth by hess, wegener was largely disregarded as a fool. The bulge of brazil south america seems to fit into the gulf of guinea africa. Scientists can observe these movements using satellite images that show, for example, that the north. Pdf what is the nature of the force or mechanism that moves massive continents thousands of. In 1967, mckenzie and parker suggested the theory of plate tectonics. This evidence for continental drift gave geologists renewed interest in. Describe how the north magnetic pole appeared to move, and how that is evidence for continental drift. Subduction zone oceanic crust is heavier than continental crust. Explanation of the continental drift theory in the light of vertebrate distribution.
Provide some evidences to support it and its limitation wegener took inspiration from a map of continents to explain the earths geologic history. Students create an interactive notebook foldable of notes and use this to create a cer scientific argument with claim, evidence, and reasoning. The coasts of the continents surrounding the atlantic ocean could, if the continents were moved closer, fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. His proposition was that pangaea had since split apart, the. The theory deals with the distribution of the oceans and the continents. Some of the evidence supporting the continental drift of the tectonic plates include the presence of similar animals and plant fossils on the shores of various continents, which suggest that they were once joined. The evidence for continental drift included the fit of the continents. To learn about the continental drift theory and the evidence that supports it. More indepth questions can be asked during the explanation. Continental drift germantown municipal school district. While making this claim, he had a collection of evidence to support it. The concept was independently and more fully developed by alfred wegener.
The shapes of the continents seemed to fit together. 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. From this he began plotting worldwide distributions of both rock and fossil data that indicated tropic, desert and polar climates. According to wegener, these forces would become effective when applied over many million years, and the drift is continuing. The southern continent consists of south america, antarctica, australia, india, and africa. Aside from the congruency of continental shelf margins across the atlantic, modern proponents of continental drift have amassed impressive geologic evidence to support their views. Continental drift, largescale horizontal movement of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time. This article talks about the continental drift theory upsc. Glacier deposits mountain ranges from different continents align and are composed of the same materials. 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. Continental drift is the motion of the earths continents over geological time. Check out my digital continental drift cer designe. Continental drift the continents have not always been in the position they are now fossils of the same ancient species have been found on different continents.
The supercontinent was named pangaea and the megaocean was called panthalassa. Look at the coded areas on the map that shows fossil and geological evidence found on the landmasses. Trained as a meteorologist, he was intrigued by the interlocking fit of africa. In this activity students recreate the argument wegener used to support his theory of continental drift. Macdonald, in handbook of gold exploration and evaluation, 2007. What scientific data was used to support the theory of continental drift. It is thought that all the continents were once joined together in one supercontinent, named pangaea. Mesosaurus small fresh water reptile glossopteris plant remains. Gondwanaland makes up the southern continents of today. These notes will also be useful for other competitive exams like banking po, ssc, state civil services exams and so on. Forces behind the drifting of continents, according to wegener. Now that scientists understand plate tectonics and how the earth moves, they would be able to support wegeners theory with how continental drift works. Anatartica has evidence of swamps and forests which means it once must have been closer to. Continental drift theory peninsular india paleontological.
What evidence is there of the continental drift theory. Continental drift theory evidences and limitations. History continental drift continental drift alfred wegener 1915 he was the first strong proponent of continental drift he published the origin of continents and oceans he proposed that a supercontinent named pangaea pan all, gaea earth split into the present continents wegeners evidence for continental drift. Two modes of running this activity are included either assign teams to become expert groups and then teach the material to the entire class, or students can rotate through all the stations. Describe the evidence wegener used to support his continental drift idea. Alfred wegeners fossil evidence for continental drift is shown on the cutouts. According to the theory of plate tectonics, the earths lithosphere is broken into distinct. Use those same colors to color each type of fossil or mountain belt according to your legend. His evidence included the fit of the continents, matching features between now. Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics. 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.
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. The first piece of the evidence explains why parts of continents, such as the west coast of africa and the east coast of south america, seem to fit together like two jigsaw puzzle pieces. Fossils of the same ancient species have been found on different continents providing evidence that they were once connected. In this article we will discuss about continental drift. 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. Longwell, some thoughts on the evidence for continental drift, 1944 wegener and his supporters did all they could do to find evidence to support continental drift. Color the legend on the puzzle pieces handout according to the key. Indications of widespread glaciation from 380 to 250 million years ago are evident in antarctica, southern south america, southern africa, india, and australia. The speculation that continents might have drifted was first put forward by abraham ortelius in 1596. Since the development of the theory, geologists have had to reexamine almost every aspect of. Continental drift, paleomagnetism, and plate tectonics. 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. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangaea based on fossil and rock evidence on the presentday continents. Paleomagnetism was a key to this revolution, as it provided unambiguous 1912 evidence both for the drift of continents runcorn. This video explores how the apparent fit of the continents, fossil and rock. Tectonics, continental drift theory by alfred wegener, evidence and. It appears that despite the criticism, alfred wegener was correct all along. But, armed with only circumstantial evidence and conjecture, convincing the conservative scientific majority would be. 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.
The causes of continental drift are perfectly explained by the plate tectonic theory. Identical fossil remains across the continents that supported. Similar plant and animal fossils on the shores of distant continents all land on earth fits together like a jigsaw puzzle. A brief overview of the theory of continental drift and the evidence supporting it.
Another important piece of evidence in the continental drift theory is the fossil relevance. It should be remembered that wegeners 1912 idea of continental dispersion arose initially from a consideration of the south atlantic and that he was constrained, by the evidence of ancient glacial climates, to combine continental dispersion with a northerly motion for which he had to introduce a special mechanism, polfluchtkraft, to explain. Fossils certain fossils preserved in rocks of the same age but from different continents. Continental drift, paleoclimatological evidence springerlink. 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. 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. But without a mechanism the idea would not be accepted. Dec 19, 2017 evidence for continental drift a map of the continents inspired wegeners quest to explain earths geologic history. What was needed was the development of technologies that would allow scientists to find more evidence for. 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. Cut out each of the continents along the edge of the continental shelf the outermost dark line. The concept was independently and more fully developed by alfred wegener in 1912, but his theory was rejected.
Each lesson is designed using the 5e method of instruction to ensure maximum comprehension by the students. The theory has caused a revolution in the way we think about the earth. Paleomagnetism and continental drift this old earth. Wegener said that continents move around on earths surface and that they were once joined together as a single supercontinent. Wegener pursued four lines of evidence to support continental drift and the existence of the supercontinent, pangaea. There are various examples of fossils found on separate continents and in no other regions.
Wegener and his theory of continental drift indian academy of. Wegeners hypothesis received support from south african geologist. More evidence still, wegener did have some evidence working in. 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.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. 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. Theory of continental drift the continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20th century, mostly by alfred wegener. What types of evidence is there to support continental drift. The continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20th century, mostly by alfred wegener. It should be remembered that wegeners 1912 idea of continental dispersion arose initially from a consideration of the south atlantic and that he was constrained, by the evidence of ancient glacial climates, to combine continental dispersion with a northerly motion for which he had to. Continental drift is defined as the motion of the earths continents over a defined period of time. Be able to explain the continental drift hypothesis. This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it. Continental drift theory peninsular india paleontological evidence.
According to the theory of plate tectonics, the earths lithosphere is broken into distinct plates which are. At the end of this continental drift theory lesson plan, students will be able to describe the historical developments that support the plate tectonic theory. Jul 24, 2019 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. Evidence for continental drift wegener gathered evidence for his hypothesis from fossils, from studies of ancient climate, and from the geology of continents. Manishika jain starts with the concept of the theory, the need for origin of this theory evidence of continental drift. More evidence still, wegener did have some evidence working in his favor during his own time. Fossils wegener learned that the fossils of an ancient reptile, mesosaurus mehzuhsawruhs, had been discovered in south america and western africa. Continental drift an overview sciencedirect topics. Continental drift, largescale horizontal movements of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time.
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