in 1915 alfred wegner developed the theory of “continental drift”. alfred didn’t come up with...
TRANSCRIPT
The History and development of the continental drift theory
In 1915 Alfred Wegner developed the theory of “Continental Drift”. Alfred didn’t come up with this theory all by himself. He combined evidence from several different scientists.
Sir Francis Bacon
In 1620 Sir Francis Bacon noticed by looking at a map that there was a “very good fit” between some of the continents
Antonio Snider Pellegrini
In 1858 French Scientist Antonio Pellegrini cited that fossils of
the same plant and animal species were found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Other research
Other research indicated that glacial grooves don’t match as the continents are positioned today but they would match if the continents had been put together in their proposed original arrangement
Alfred Wegner’s theory of Continental drift was not accepted!
Even though Alfred Wegner had combined evidence from many different sources to show that the continents had once been connected and then drifted apart his theory was not accepted because he did not explain “HOW” the continents moved.
Later … Frank Taylor
In 1958 An American Geologist named Frank Taylor pointed out geologic similarities between South America and Africa.
Similar Rocks found on both sides of the Atlantic
Evidence of the same climate
Frank Taylor could not explain how the plates moved either and so his observations were also “dismissed”
Harry Hess gets the job done! In the 1960’s Harry Hess, an American
Geologist and an armed service veteran from World War II, discovered that the sea floor splits apart in the center
of the Atlantic ocean at areas called mid ocean ridges. He used sonar to map the ocean floor, and to identify German U boats!
Picture citations
http://universe-review.ca/I09-03-drift.jpg
http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2007/06/070615152639.jpg
http://www.scientificamerican.com/media/inline/blog/Image/Laser-seabed.jp
http://media.maps.com/magellan/Images/NGC_Jun_1968b_c.jpg