Geosphere Starter Sheet 01/09/2018 or 01/10/2018 What is the theory of “Continental Drift?”

https://goo.gl/WyttKK Watch This https://goo.gl/WyttKK This is NOT scientifically accurate, but it is based on Continental Drift Theory

Old theory that states that the continents are moving Vocabulary! Old theory that states that the continents are moving Continental Drift Evidence: Puzzle-like Fit Geologic Record Ancient Climates

Continental Drift Hypothesis Alfred Wegener’s Evidence

Plate Tectonics Alfred Wegener: (1880-1930) Famous for proposing Continental Drift Theory, and the Theory of Pangaea.

Three Pieces of Evidence Geometric Fit of Continents Fossil and Geologic Record Ancient Climates

Three Pieces of Evidence 1. Geometric Fit of the Continents

Pangaea was a SUPER CONTINENT on the Earth 225 million years ago. Geometric Fit Pangaea was a SUPER CONTINENT on the Earth 225 million years ago.

After about 25 million years Pangaea separated into TWO major continents: Laurasia and Gondwanaland

Geometric Fit Around 65 million years later you can start to see the individualization of the 7 continents we know today. 1 2 3 4 5 7 6

Geometric Fit Around the same time the dinosaurs went extinct (65 million years ago) the Earth’s continents were still moving!

Present Day location of continents

Three Pieces of Evidence 2. Fossil Record

One of the fossils he used as evidence was of the Mesosaurus reptile! Fossil Record Wegener used fossils, land features, and climate to come up with the Theory of Continental Drift. One of the fossils he used as evidence was of the Mesosaurus reptile!

Fossil Record Fossils of the Mesosaurus have been found in South America and in Africa.

Other CRAZY fossils! Lystrosaurus: Found in Antarctica, Australia, Madagascar, and Africa

Other CRAZY Fossils! Cynognathus: Found in South America and Africa

Landform Evidence Wegener also used landforms, like ancient rivers, glacier carvings, and mountain ranges that lined up on opposite continents!

Three Pieces of Evidence 3. Ancient Climates

Ancient Climates By studying the rock layers in various places, scientists can determine what the climate use to be like.

You can see deep carvings in rocks where the arrows are pointing You can see deep carvings in rocks where the arrows are pointing. This is evidence of a large glacier that slowly melted over time.

Go to this website to see what the Earth looked like during different time periods  http://scotese.com/earth.htm

Was the theory accepted? No! Alfred Wegener’s theory was not well accepted at the time because there was NOT enough evidence. Alfred could not explain the force that was causing the continents to move.

It’s really the PLATES underneath the continents that move! Plate Tectonics The theory of Pangaea makes it look as though JUST the continents move, but… It’s really the PLATES underneath the continents that move!

Image of: Bruce Heezen and Marie Thrap Plate Tectonics Image of: Bruce Heezen and Marie Thrap