1. The History of Plate Tectonics

2. 1500’s: Abraham Ortelius Ortelius was a famous mapmaker Noticed that S. America & Africa “fit” together See how they fit like puzzle pieces?

3. Thought the continents used to be together –Figured earthquakes and floods tore them apart Was the first theory of its kind He was wrong, but it’s OKHe was wrong, but it’s OK –He was on the right track 1500’s: Abraham Ortelius He used his noggin!

4. Discovered an ancient continent: GondwanalandGondwanaland Gondwanaland was made of the southern continents 1890’s: Eduard Suess It’s Dr. Suess! Some activists want to bring it all back together again.

5. Suess found the same fossils on several continents He figured they must have been connected 1890’s: Eduard Suess

6. Wegener came up with the first theory with good, reliable proof 1912: Alfred Wegener Was a meteorologist He studied ancient climates He also liked geology He loved to smoke his pipe He died young, tobacco kills.

7. Theory of Continental Drift- 1912 –All continents were once joined together –Supercontinent was called Pangaea (means “One Earth”) 1912: Alfred Wegener

8. 225 million years agoPresent Day

9. #1: Fossil Evidence –He found several types of fossils in far away places. Why was Alfred more believable?

11. #2: Rock Formations –Rocks in South America and Africa are exactly the same –North America and Europe have the same rock formations too Why was Alfred more believable?

12. #3: Ancient Climate Evidence –Coal only forms in tropical swamps –Alfred found coal in Antarctica It must have been near the equator at one time Why was Alfred more believable?

13. #3: Ancient Climate Evidence –Alfred found rocks left by glaciers near the equator –These areas must have been near the poles at some time Why was Alfred more believable?

14. Two Reasons Why: #1: Alfred couldn’t explain WHAT made huge continents move. #2: Alfred thought continents “plowed” through the oceans. This is impossible, the continents would fall apart. Scientists in 1912 Hated the Theory of Continental Drift

15. Continued to study climates Died at 50 during a heroic rescue mission to Greenland. Explorers found his frozen body a year laterExplorers found his frozen body a year later What happened to Alfred Wegener? Alfred & an Inuit guide during his fateful last mission