Continental drift is the theory that the earths continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have drifted across the ocean bed. But the credit for the theory is given to alfred wegener see inside of back cover because he first provided a detailed and reasoned exposition of the theory of continental drift. Alfred lothar wegener 18801930, who established the theory of. Continental drift wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Mesosaurus small fresh water reptile glossopteris plant remains. Alfred wegener proposed that the continents had once been massed together in a single supercontinent and then gradually drifted apart. Inspect evidence for the theory of continental drift involving plate tectonics and supercontinent pangeaa discussion of some of the evidence. Set forth in 1912 by alfred wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also. The first truly detailed and comprehensive theory of continental drift was proposed in 1912 by alfred wegener, a german meteorologist. It should be remembered that wegeners 1912 idea of continental dispersion arose initially from a consideration of the south atlantic and that he was constrained, by the evidence of ancient glacial climates, to combine continental dispersion with a northerly motion for which he had to introduce a special mechanism, polfluchtkraft, to explain. He defended his theory against a chorus of cri ticism for about two decades and constantly sought evidence to. Theory of continental drift proposed by alfred wegener in 1912, but not widely accepted until seafloor spreading was discovered in 1960.
However, over the past 50 years, scientists have used the theory of continental drift to develop the current theory the theory of plate tectonics. Alfred wegener developed theory of continental drift alfred wegener was a german meteorologist studied weather credited with development of the continental. Theory of continental drift the continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20th century, mostly by alfred wegener. The theory deals with the distribution of the oceans and the continents. Another important piece of evidence in the continental drift theory is the fossil relevance. Evidence of the continental drift essay example graduateway. According to wegeners continental drift theory, all the continents were one single continental mass called a super continent pangaea and a mega ocean surrounded this supercontinent.
It combines the continental drift theory proposed in 1912 by alfred wegener in germany. This video describes the evidence alfred wegener used to formulate his continental drift hypothesis and examines why this idea did not gain wide acceptance when it. Continental drift theory no need to take notes i have taken them for you 2. They broke apart about 200 million years ago and drifted apart to their current positions. He published his observations in a geological comparison of south america with south africa1927, and later he developed his ideas in our wandering continents 1937. Polar wandering similar to continental drift theory polar wandering is the relative movement of the earths crust and upper mantle with respect to the rotational poles of the earth. The theory has caused a revolution in the way we think about the earth. This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it. The coasts of the continents surrounding the atlantic ocean could, if the continents were moved closer, fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. In 1912, alfred wegener proposed a theory that the continents had once been joined, and over time had drifted apart. On the other hand, evolution detractors usually assess continental drift to be as poorly.
Alfred wegener, pangea, and the evidence for continental. Cut out each of the continents along the edge of the continental shelf the outermost dark line. The continental drift controversy has been deeply analysed in terms of rationalist notions, which seem to find there a unique topic to describe the weight of evidence for reaching consensus. Wegener noticed that the continents fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Since the development of the theory, geologists have had to reexamine almost every aspect of. Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics. Wegeners theory of continental drift states that the existing continents of the earth were once glued together forming a super landmass. According to the hypothesis of continental drift, continents have moved slowly to their current locations. There are various examples of fossils found on separate continents and in no other regions. What are the 6 pieces of evidence that proved continental. Provide some evidences to support it and its limitation wegener took inspiration from a map of continents to explain the earths geologic history. The continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20th century, mostly by alfred wegener. Plate tectonics it was from the continental drift theory, convection current theory and the theory of seafloor spreading, the theory of plate tectonics was formulated.
Wegener used 3 types of evidence to prove his theory. Existing theory of continental drift wegeners theory was based in part on what appeared to him to be the seemingly nearperfect remarkable fit of the south american and african continents, first noted by abraham ortelius three centuries earlier le grand, he. Wegener was convinced that all the continents were once part of an enormous, single landmass that broke apart. Pangaea and proposed the theory of continental drift. Continental drift theory evidences and limitations question throw some light on theory of continental drift. What are six things that supported wegeners theory of continental drift. He knew that plant and animal fossils, as well as rock layers, matched on the two continents of africa and south america. A brief introduction to alfred wegeners theory of continental drift, which would lay the groundwork for the development of plate tectonic theory, which essentially explains the geology of the. Continental drift is the theory that the earths continents have moved over geologic time relative. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The validation of continental drift stephen jay gould. Another indication of continental drift is tectonic activity and seafloor spreading. However, if the theory of continental drift has anything to say about it, that.
Continental drift theory continental drift is the hypothesis that all the continents had once been joined together in a single landmass. What evidence is there of the continental drift theory. Theory of continental was purposed by alferedwegner in 1912. In his proposal, he stated that the super content, which he named pangaea. Continental drift theory cdt continental drift refers to the movement of the continents relative to each other. Nov 29, 2012 a brief introduction to alfred wegeners theory of continental drift, which would lay the groundwork for the development of plate tectonic theory, which essentially explains the geology of the. What evidence did wegener have for his theory of continental drift. Introduction in 1915 wegener published a book the origin. Fossils certain fossils preserved in rocks of the same age but from different continents. This evidence was perhaps what sparked the continental drift theory, but there are other pieces of evidence as well. Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics plate tectonics is a theory developed in the late 1960s, to explain how the outer layers of the earth move and deform. Over time, the landmass broke and drifted away and is still drifting to this day.
He defended his theory against a chorus of cri ticism for about two decades and constantly sought evidence to strengthen it. Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on earths surface. As stated before the theory of continental drift has strong points of evidence one being the physical feature, how all of the continents, for the most part, fit together like puzzle pieces for example, africa and south america. My friends and i are here to present my theory of continental drift, which i published in the year 1915.
This was the time when reptiles and winged insects first appeared. Color the legend on the puzzle pieces handout according to the key. Who proposed the theory and what evidence did he provide to prove his theory. Mar 12, 2020 continental drift, largescale horizontal movement of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time. This indicates that these continents had to be once joined together because the extensive oceans between these land masses act as a type of barrier for fossil. Use those same colors to color each type of fossil or mountain belt according to your legend. Continental drift an overview sciencedirect topics. Unlock content over 79,000 lessons in all major subjects. Set forth in 1912 by alfred wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also explained why lookalike animal and plant fossils, and similar rock formations, are found on different continents. Dec 17, 2019 plate tectonics it was from the continental drift theory, convection current theory and the theory of seafloor spreading, the theory of plate tectonics was formulated. The evidence which gave rise to the theory of continental drift more correctly called plate tectonics includes the following. Continental drift theory free download as powerpoint presentation.
According to the theory of plate tectonics, the earths lithosphere is broken into distinct plates which are. Start studying evidence for continental drift theory. Although he presented much evidence for continental drift, he was unable to provide a convincing explanation for. Dec 16, 2019 continental drift theory cdt continental drift refers to the movement of the continents relative to each other. Jul 24, 2019 continental drift was a revolutionary scientific theory developed in the years 19081912 by alfred wegener 18801930, a german meteorologist, climatologist, and geophysicist, that put forth the hypothesis that the continents had all originally been a part of one enormous landmass or supercontinent about 240 million years ago before breaking apart and drifting to their current locations. It should be remembered that wegeners 1912 idea of continental dispersion arose initially from a consideration of the south atlantic and that he was constrained, by the evidence of ancient glacial climates, to combine continental dispersion with a northerly motion for which he had to introduce a special. All continents were once connected in a single large landmass. Wegener explicitly presented his theory as a means to reconcile historical geology with isostasy. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangaea based on fossil and rock evidence on the presentday continents. Jan 14, 2018 this video describes the evidence alfred wegener used to formulate his continental drift hypothesis and examines why this idea did not gain wide acceptance when it was originally proposed. Scientists agree that continents rest on rocks called tectonic plates, which shift and move. The reaction to alfred wegeners theory tells us much about the workings of science. Pdf styles of thought on the continental drift debate.
Bringing together a large mass of geologic and paleontological data, wegener postulated that throughout most of geologic time there was only one continent, which he called pangea. Alfred wegener, pangea, and the evidence for continental drift. If youve ever flown to europe, you know that its a long flight. In 1967, mckenzie and parker suggested the theory of plate tectonics. Alfred wegener and the hypothesis of continental drift authors. Pdf alfred wegenerfrom continental drift to plate tectonics. A map of the continents inspired wegeners quest to explain earths geologic history.
There he argued for the separation of wegeners pangea into the two super continents, laurasia and gondwana. Continental drift was a revolutionary scientific theory developed in the years 19081912 by alfred wegener 18801930, a german meteorologist, climatologist, and geophysicist, that put forth the hypothesis that the continents had all originally been a part of one enormous landmass or supercontinent about 240 million years ago before breaking apart and drifting to their current locations. The physical absurdities of wegeners theory rested on his conviction that continents cut their way through the ocean floor. The pictures show continental drift theory from 225 million years to present. Paleoclimatology has been wedded to continental drift from its first presentation. Similar plant and animal fossils on the shores of distant continents all land on earth fits together like a jigsaw puzzle. Sea floor spreading further supports the continental drift theory. Dec 19, 2017 continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on earths surface.
The theory of continental drift continental drift discovery the world alfred wegener theory of continental drift continental drift p95 red book, 182 in sciencesaurus theory that continents were once part of a single landmass that broke apart and have moved to their present locations. The speculation that continents might have drifted was first put forward by abraham ortelius in 1596. Glacier deposits mountain ranges from different continents align and are composed of the same materials. He published his observations in a geological comparison of south america with south africa1927, and later he developed his ideas in our wandering continents1937. Alfred wegeners fossil evidence for continental drift is shown on the cutouts. When continental drift came into fashion during the late 1960s, the classical data from continental rocks played no role at all. More evidence that supported wegeners theory of continental drift climate clues o he found evidence of glaciers in tropical areas. However, over the past 50 years, scientists have used the theory of continental drift to develop the. Continental drift and the more recent science of plate tectonics are now the bedrock of modern geology. The development of the theory of continental drift and plate tectonics illustrates the. Several types of evidence in rocks on land and on the seafloor and in the animal and plant kingdoms may be explained simply if we assume that the continents.
Alfred was trying to get his girlfriends father to like him. Through the theory of continental drift, humans have been able to figure out how the earths crust moves and the causes of volcanoes, earthquakes, oceanic trenches, formation of mountain ranges and other geological occurrences. He was not the first to observe this, but he was the first to gather evidence suggesting that the continents were in motion. In other words, the paleomagnetic evidence appears to. Wegener said that continents move around on earths surface and that they were once joined together as a single supercontinent. Similar plant and animal fossils on the shores of distant continents. Continental drift, largescale horizontal movement of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time.
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