1. Theory of Continental Drift
Presented by
Mr. D’Angelone

2. Who proposed the Theory of Continental Drift?

3. Alfred Wegener German scientist 1880-1930
Proposed the Theory of Continental Drift
Provided early evidence

4. What is Continental Drift?

5. Theory of Continental Drift
Wegener proposed that all the continents had once been joined together in a single landmass and have since drifted apart.
Pangaea was the name given to the super continent.

6. Evidence for Continental Drift
Early Evidence
Puzzle-like fit of the continents
Fossil clues
Climate clues
Glaciers
Glacial deposits
Rock clues

7. Puzzle-like fit of the Continents
The edges of some continents look as if they would fit together like a puzzle.

8. Fossil Clues: Mesosaurus
A freshwater swimming reptile
Fossils found in South America and Africa.
Wegener thought that this reptile lived on both continents when the continents were connected.

9. Fossil Clues: Glossopteris
Fossil Fern
Found in Africa, Australia, India, South America and Antarctica.
Wegener believed that all these areas were connected.

10. Climate Clues
Fossils of warm weather plants were found on islands in the Arctic Ocean.
Wegener believed that these islands drifted from tropical regions.

11. Climate Clues: Glacial Deposits
Glacial deposits and grooved bedrock found in southern areas of South America, Africa, India, and Australia.
Indicates that these continents were once covered with glaciers.
Wegener believed that these continents were covered with ice near Earth’s South Pole at one time.

12. Rock Clues Similar rock structures are found on different continents.
Mountains found in the eastern U.S. are similar to those found in Greenland and western Europe.
The clues found in rocks, support the idea that continents were connected when these rock structures formed.

13. Scientists Reject Wegener’s Theory
Wegener provided more than evidence for his theory.
He attempted to explain how drift took place.
Unfortunately, Wegener could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the force that pushes or pulls the continents.
Therefore, scientists rejected his theory.

14. How could continents drift?