continental drift wegener evidence

ContinentaContinental Driftl Drift

Continental Drift Continental Drift HypothesisHypothesis

1915 - Alfred Wegener, 1915 - Alfred Wegener, German scientist noted German scientist noted how continents could fit how continents could fit together like a puzzle.together like a puzzle.

He suggested that all He suggested that all continents once formed a continents once formed a supercontinent he called supercontinent he called Pangea and has moved.Pangea and has moved.

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Alfred never gave up…Alfred never gave up… He continued to gather He continued to gather

evidence.evidence. He died in 1930 in Greenland.He died in 1930 in Greenland.

An explanation was not An explanation was not accepted until the 1960’s.accepted until the 1960’s.

What is continental drift?What is continental drift?Theory that all the continents had Theory that all the continents had

once been joined as a single once been joined as a single landmass - a supercontinent.landmass - a supercontinent.

200 million years ago200 million years ago……

Pan = AllPan = All

Gaea = EarthGaea = Earth


Wegener could not Wegener could not explain what made the explain what made the supercontinent split and supercontinent split and move apart.move apart.

He was laughed at and he He was laughed at and he died in 1930died in 1930..

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In 1950's the following In 1950's the following evidence was observedevidence was observed

1. Continental shelf outlines 1. Continental shelf outlines match each other very closely.match each other very closely.

2. Rock layers and rock ages in2. Rock layers and rock ages in

Africa match those in SouthAfrica match those in South

AmericaAmerica..


3. Similar diamonds in similar 3. Similar diamonds in similar

rock strata matched Southrock strata matched South

America and Africa.America and Africa.

4. Mountain ranges of North4. Mountain ranges of North

America and EuropeAmerica and Europe

matchedmatched..3449-50


5. Ancient animal remains of 5. Ancient animal remains of

Mesosaurus and LystrosaurusMesosaurus and Lystrosaurus

matched the continents.matched the continents.

6. Climate studies of continents6. Climate studies of continents

show the different show the different continents have same climates continents have same climates at one timeat one time..


7. Glacial remains found on7. Glacial remains found on

South America, Africa, South America, Africa, India,India,

Australia and Antarctica Australia and Antarctica

matched.matched.


8. Magnetic material in the8. Magnetic material in the

rocks matched on Southrocks matched on South

America, Africa, India,America, Africa, India,

Australia, and Australia, and AntarcticaAntarctica..

2 unanswered questions that led to 2 unanswered questions that led to the rejection of Wegener’s Theory the rejection of Wegener’s Theory of Continental Driftof Continental Drift

1.1. What forces could move continents?What forces could move continents?

2.2. How could continents move without How could continents move without shattering?shattering?

continental drift wegener evidence

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