Continental Drift Theory

Pangea A supercontinent that existed 200 million years ago. The most recent of several supercontinents that have existed over earth’s history.

Continental Drift Theory Proposed by a German scientists named Alfred Wegener. Plates are constantly moving relative to one another. Over time the contents will move together and then apart again, changing their positions on the globe and relative to one another.

Evidence for Continental Drift Fit of Plates Coastlines look like they fit together

Evidence for Continental Drift Fossil Evidence Same fossils found on many continents in specific locations Scientists’ explanations Rafting Stepping stones Land bridges Continental Drift (Wegener’s Theory)

Evidence for Continental Drift

Evidence for Continental Drift Evidence from Rocks Mountains of same age and geologic composition found across oceans…must have been connected

Evidence for Continental Drift Climatic Evidence Continents have fossils that could only exist if a continent was at a different location Examples: Tropical plants found on Antarctica (would have been near the equator), while other continents were covered with ice

Evidence for Continental Drift