On the puzzle pieces handout, assign a color to each type of fossil or mountain belt in the legend and color the areas on the landmasses according to the legend. History continental drift continental drift alfred wegener 1915 he was the first strong proponent of continental drift he published the origin of continents and oceans he proposed that a supercontinent named pangaea pan all, gaea earth split into the present continents wegeners evidence for continental drift. 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. Color the legend on the puzzle pieces handout according to the key. Each inb activity is designed to help students compartmentalize information for a greater understanding of the concept. Feb 15, 2017 the idea that continental drift has taken place came up primarily because of study of fossils discovered from different corners of earth. To gain a better understanding of planet formation theory. Alfred wegeners fossil evidence for continental drift is shown on the cutouts.
During the 20th century, a major scientific concepttheory of plate tectonics emerged to. Oct 12, 2018 a brief overview of the theory of continental drift and the evidence supporting it. Use those same colors to color each type of fossil or mountain belt according to your legend. 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 lithosphere is always in a state of work in progress. What are six things that supported wegeners theory of continental drift. Drift away continental drift theory at first nobody believed alfred wegeners theory why you ask. Fossils fossils of the same animals were found on many. Seafloor spreading theory sfst seafloor spreading describes the movement of. One of the most important contributions to the development of plate tectonic theory was alfred wegeners 1915 publication of the origin of continents and oceans which outlined his theory of continental drift. Scientists discovered the fossils of many identicalappearing species on widely separated continents. Alfred wegener and continental drift it was not until 1912 that the idea of moving continents was seriously considered as a fullblown scientific theory called continental drift introduced in two articles published by a 32yearold german meteorologist named alfred lothar wegener alfred lothar wegener 18801930 earned a.
Gk, general studies, optional notes for upsc, ias, banking, civil services. Other fossil evidence also supports the theory of continental drift. They broke apart about 200 million years ago and drifted apart to their current positions. Continental drift and plate tectonics lets talk science. Fossils wegener learned that the fossils of an ancient reptile, mesosaurus mehzuhsawruhs, had been discovered in south america and western africa. Wegener said that continents move around on earths surface and that they were once joined together as a single supercontinent. The idea that continental drift has taken place came up primarily because of study of fossils discovered from different corners of earth. The book was revised in 1920, 1922 and 1929 in response to criticisms of the theory and advances in earth sciences. The theory of plate tectonics proposed by samuel warren carey in 1958 proposed that the surface of the earth is composed of large plates that float on liquid rock magma. Later, a sea called tethys divided pangea into two parts, namely laurentia laurasia or angaraland to the north and gondwanaland to the south of tethys. It combines the continental drift theory proposed in 1912 by alfred wegener in germany. Wegeners continental drift meets wilsons plate tectonics.
Each group will present what they found with their piece of evidence using a map or their continental cutouts to explain their information. Pdf a historical account of how continental drift and plate tectonics. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangea based on fossil and rock evidence on the present day continents. It actually means having been dug up in its original latin form. Besides the way the continents fit together, wegener and his. In this, and several further papers and books, wegener used evidence from the fossil record to support his theory of continental drift. How wegeners continental drift evidence matches up with evidence for plate tectonics. The overlapping scales bear large, bright red seeds which sink in water. Freshwater reptile mesosaurus fern plant glossopteris fossil evidence of land reptile lystrosaurus land reptile cynognathus antarctica australia africa south. Wegener first presented his theory of continental drift publicly in a lecture on january 6, 1912. Continental drift theory no need to take notes i have taken them for you slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Look at the coded areas on the map that shows fossil and geological evidence. According to the authors the greatest evidence for continental drift came. However, over the past 50 years, scientists have used the theory of continental drift to develop the current theory the theory.
The theory of continental drift famously argued by alfred wegener in 1921 did not become widely accepted until we could explain why and how the continents moved. The evidence which gave rise to the theory of continental drift more correctly called plate tectonics includes the following. Although he elaborated on it in later editions of his book in 1920, 1922, and 1929, the controversy persisted. Wegener could thus explain in a simple way i similarities in shapes of continental coast lines separated by wide oceans, ii similarities in the rocks and fossils. 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.
His contribution helped evolved the understanding the direction of drift and evidence supporting it. How does the fossil record support the theory of continental. Continental drift refers to the movement of the continents relative to each other. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangaea based on fossil and rock evidence on the presentday continents. 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 earth. Dinosaur fossils provide evidence for continental drift. In 1912, alfred wegener proposed a theory that the continents had once been joined, and over time had drifted apart. It finally led to the development of the theory of seafloor spreading and plate tectonics. Continental drift, continental drift flashcards quizlet. Set forth in 1912 by alfred wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also. Alfred wegener proposed that the continents had once been massed together in a single supercontinent and then gradually drifted apart. Evidence for continental drift wegener gathered evidence for his hypothesis from fossils, from studies of ancient climate, and from the geology of continents. All continents were once connected in a single large landmass.
Scientists still do not appear to understand sufficiently that all earth sciences must contribute evidence toward unveiling the state of our planet in earlier times, and that the truth of the matter can only be. Wegener explicitly presented his theory as a means to reconcile historical geology with isostasy. Theory of continental drift the continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20th century, mostly by alfred wegener. The earliest marine fossils found along the eastern coast of south america and the western coast of africa date from about 150 to 200 million years ago, suggesting that the atlantic ocean did not exist prior to that time. Fossils of similar types of plants and animals in rocks of a similar age have been found on the shores of different continents, suggesting that the continents were once joined. Thus, proposed in 1912 by alfred wegener, continental drift theory explained why similar looking animal and plant fossils and. According to continental drift theory there existed one big landmass which he called pangaea which was covered by one big ocean called panthalassa. This was the time when reptiles and winged insects first appeared. Continental drift notes 92014 theory of continental drift. Continental drift theory evidences and limitations. For example, dinosaur fossils found in south america and africa provide evidence that the two continents used to be part of the same larger land mass, gondwanaland. Wegener 18801930 put forth a highly controversial theory of continental drift in the first edition of his book, the origin of continents and oceans 10.
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. Continental drift theory continental drift is the hypothesis that all the continents had once been joined together in a single landmass. Alfred wegener, continental drift, plate tectonics, pangea. However, over the past 50 years, scientists have used the theory of continental drift to develop the current theory the theory of plate tectonics. How did fossil evidence support the theory of continental.
Sorting out which parts of the evidence we now have for plate tectonics that alfred wegener knew about in the 1920s. This video explores how the apparent fit of the continents, fossil and rock correlation, and paleoclimate data. Alfred wegener and the theory of continental drift. Pdf alfred wegenerfrom continental drift to plate tectonics. Wegeners evidence to support his theory of continental drift the puzzlelike fit of the south america and africa fossils and plants o fossils. Cut out each of the continents along the edge of the continental shelf the outermost dark line. The speculation that continents might have drifted was first put forward by abraham ortelius in 1596. Dear friends, please support this channels development, like, comment, and subscribe. Wegener supported his argument with five lines of evidence. Stratigraphy and fossil evidence a in depth look into biology.
He was not the first to observe this, but he was the first to gather evidence suggesting that the continents were in motion. Wegener and his theory of continental drift indian academy of. Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on earths surface. As noted by sniderpellegrini and alfred wegener, the locations of certain fossil plants and animals on presentday, widely separated continents would form definite patterns shown by the bands of colors, if the continents are rejoined. The rejection of continental drift uc press journals. The continental drift theory inb template allows students to focus their notes on alfred wegener, continental drift theory, pangaea, and the 3 pieces of evidence. One type of evidence that strongly supported the theory of continental drift is the fossil record. Continental drift updated 2018 a brief overview of the theory of continental drift and the evidence supporting it. The reaction to alfred wegeners theory tells us much about the workings of science. The concept was independently and more fully developed by alfred wegener in 1912, but his theory was rejected by many for. Another important piece of evidence in the continental drift theory is the fossil relevance. What evidence of climate change on continents supports the theory of continental drift.
Mesosaurus small fresh water reptile glossopteris plant remains. Wegeners hypothesis was that all the continents were once joined together in a. First, they theorized that separate species developed identically across the farflung continents, a notion that was highly unlikely. The coasts of the continents surrounding the atlantic ocean could, if the continents were moved closer, fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Wegener used 3 types of evidence to prove his theory. Continental drift, largescale horizontal movement of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time. Wegener noticed that the continents fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. In 1912, a german geologist named alfred wegener came up with an outlandish theory known as continental drift. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. The first continental portion of the earth was called pangea, and the oceanic part was called panthalassa. 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. 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. It is believed that continental drift has resulted in the present worldwide distribution of.
Dec 16, 2019 continental drift theory alfred wegener, 1922 plate tectonics breakup of pangea. Wegener and his theory of continental drift springerlink. On the other hand, evolution detractors usually assess continental drift to be as poorly. That the continents of the world all started together in a single landmass, and have since drifted apart. The word fossil was coined more than 500 years ago, by german scientist georgius agricola, though records describing fossils are much older. Fossils of similar organisms across widely disparate continents encouraged the revolutionary theory of continental drift. Fossils certain fossils preserved in rocks of the same age but from different continents. He then gathered an impressive amount of evidence to show that earths continents were once connected in a single supercontinent.
How did fossil evidence support the theory of continental drift. Alfred wegener suggested continental drift theory in the 1920s. Continental drift an overview sciencedirect topics. On the puzzle pieces handout, assign a color to each type of fossil or mountain belt in the legend and color the areas on the landmasses. Fossils of creatures and plants discovered on different continents helped to him push his case that the continents were once locked together before breaking up and drifting away. In fact wegener found fossils of tropical plants like ferns and cycads in the. Science accepted continental drift only in the 1950s, but scientists had been arguing for the theory since at least a century, basing themselves on evidence. Inspect evidence for the theory of continental drift involving plate tectonics and supercontinent pangeaa discussion of some of the evidence supporting. Alfred wegener developed theory of continental drift alfred wegener was a german meteorologist studied weather credited with development of the continental. Continental drift, largescale horizontal movements of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time.
Figure 12glossopteris, mesosaurus fossils and rocks found on. 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. Some of the fossil evidence discovered on the continents includes mesosaurus, lystosaurus. A map of the continents inspired wegeners quest to explain earths geologic history. Keeping in mind the criticism of wegeners geological evidence for drift, he identified 17 tests on exposed rocks to establish predrift contigui ty among the now. Google scholar it is universally considered a fundamental manual for this. He wrote the origin of continents and oceans dealing with the theory in 1915. Wegener was convinced that all the continents were once part of an enormous, single landmass that broke apart. Continental drift and the more recent science of plate tectonics are now the bedrock of modern geology. Continental drift, paleomagnetism, and plate tectonics. Apr 28, 2018 map of continental drift fossil evidence.
To learn about the continental drift theory and the evidence that supports it. How did fossils provide evidence for continental drift. There are various examples of fossils found on separate continents and in no other regions. Cycads date back in the fossil record to a time when dinosaurs roamed the land and when the earths continents were united. Dec 19, 2017 continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on earths surface. Color the fossil areas on the land masses to match the legend below. This video explores how the apparent fit of the continents, fossil and rock continental drift. This theory was the first comprehensive theory to talk about the drifting of continents.
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. In 1915, wegener published his evidence for continental drift in a book called the. This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it. 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.