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

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

3. 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

4. Continental Drift Hypothesis
Alfred Wegener’s Evidence

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

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

7. Three Pieces of Evidence
1. Geometric Fit of the Continents

8. 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.

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

10. 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

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

12. Present Day location of continents

13. Three Pieces of Evidence
2. Fossil Record

14. 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!

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

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

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

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

24. Three Pieces of Evidence
3. Ancient Climates

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

26. 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.

29. Go to this website to see what the Earth looked like during different time periods 

30. 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.

31. 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!

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