The Theory of Continental Drift

Wednesday DO NOW: Hand in HW assignment “Continental Drift” Pick up the Pink sheet up front, read and complete questions (5 minutes)

Continental Drift Theory Proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912 About 200 million years ago, all of the continents were combined into one super-continent called “Pangaea” The continents gradually drifted apart to where they are today

Evidence to Support the Theory

“Puzzle Pieces” Continents look like they could be part of a giant jigsaw puzzle

Distribution of Fossils Plant and animal fossils found on the coastlines of different continents Mesosaurus

Sequence of Rocks Same rock patterns found in South America, India, Africa, Antarctica and Australia

Ancient Climates Tropical plant remains (coal deposits) found in Antarctica Glaciation in Africa, South America, India, and Australia during the same time

Problems With The Theory No mechanism for movement of continents Wind and currents could possibly move fossils Theory was not accepted by scientists