…to go from this… …to this? Approx. 250 Million Years (hint – look in chapter 10)
Continental Drift – the hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up and drifted to their present locations.
In 1912, The German scientist proposed the theory of continental drift. It states that all the continents once formed a single landmass called a supercontinent he named Pangaea. He thought that the crumpling in the crust in places may have produced mountain ranges we see today. Look at pages in the textbook. Summarize the different evidence Wegener used to support his theory of continental drift.
Pangea Continental Drift Video Clip
Sea-floor Spreading – the process by which new oceanic lithosphere (sea floor) forms as magma rises to Earth’s surface and solidifies at a mid-ocean ridge.
Paleomagnetism – the study of the alignment of magnetic minerals in rock, specifically as it relates to the reversal of Earth’s magnetic poles.
In your own words, explain the theory of continental drift. Include and underline these key terms: Continental drift, Supercontinent, Fossils, Climate, Geologic evidence, Sea-floor spreading, Mid-ocean ridge, and Paleomagnetism.