what evidence supports the theory of continental drift

He was limited by the technology of his time and more evidence to support his claim wasnt available till scientific technology improved and evidence was found of plate tectonics. Fossils of Mesosoaurs (freshwater aquatic reptiles) have been found on the continents of Africa and South America along with fossils of plant life providing more evidence that the continents were once joined and moved apart over time. The southern continent consists of South America, Antarctica, Australia, India, and Africa. Which statement best describes the theory of continental drift in terms of evidence that the continents move and the mechanism driving their movement, The theory was supported by the evidence and included a mechanism. What Is N For The Following Equation In Relating Kc To Kp? It also extends to a depth of 2900km. 3 Which is evidence supporting the theory of continental drift? The fossils of these organisms are found on lands that are now far apart. Continental drift describes one of the earliest ways geologists thought continents moved over time. . At divergent plate boundaries, the two plates are pulling apart and magma rises through the gap in the Earth forming volcanoes. What does it mean that the Bible was divinely inspired? As the plates pulled apart from each other millions of years ago it caused earthquakes which led to magma rising from the mantle and erupting through the crust forming the Mid Atlantic Ridge as it solidified, this is called sea floor spreading as it is an example of two oceanic plates pulling away from each other. 1. It was first suggested by Abraham Ortelius in 1596, and Alfred Wegener completed its development. Continental Drift- This is a theory of the Earth proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. The Earth is broken into lithospheric plates that move due to convection currents. Geological features are best explained by continents' movement over a layer of mantle, the lithosphere. Its, therefore, impossible that the seeds of the fern were blown by wind or floated across the ocean to have that kind of population on these 5 continents. This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it. Continental Drift- This is a theory of the Earth proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. Other examples of Fold Mountains are: The Andes, The Alps and The Rockies. What are the 6 pieces of evidence for the theory of continental drift? Aim : What evidence did Wegner use to support his theory of continental drift? This essay wont pass a plagiarism check! Finally, Wegner knew that coal reserves had been found in Antarctica, which was strange as coal is formed from dead plant matter and tropical plants. Glossopteris - plant remains found in South America, Australia, Asia and Africa. The fact that the seeds would have been unable to be blown or floated to these continents proves that these continents were once together. What is continental drift theory explain with evidence? The Wallace Line. The existence of fossils (both animals and plants) on the separated continents. Answer 5: Fossils are formed when living organisms (plants or animals) die and become buried in dirt, sand or mud. What evidence did Wegener not support his hypothesis of continental drift? The direction of their magnetization is the same as the direction of Earths magnetic field at the time and place of crystallization. Some life rode on diverging plates became isolated and evolved into new species. The ocean floor is thus pushed at right angles and in opposite directions away from the crests. Available from: https://edubirdie.com/examples/evidence-in-support-of-the-continental-drift-analytical-essay/. Theblogy.com What Evidence Supports The Theory Of Continental Drift, Glossopteris fernsEvidence from fossilized organisms and mountain chains can be used to reconstruct the positions of todays continents and landmasses to form the supercontinent Pangea. Continental drift is the suggestion that over long periods of geological time, the continents of the Earth have moved apart from each other and had once formed almost one single land mass known as Pangaea. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Gondwanaland contained all the masses in the southern hemisphere such as Africa, Antarctica, South America and Australia. Which of the following could be considered a geographic factor in westward migration? Lystrosaurus, on the other hand, was located in Africa, India, and Antarctica. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. He supported his theory with geological evidence. Late Paleozoic sedimentary rocks often contain extensive coal seams that were used to support the existence of Pangaea. It is thought that all the continents were once joined together in one super-continent, named Pangaea. See also how much do zoos make a year. Some of the evidence supporting the continental drift of the tectonic plates include the presence of similar animals and plant fossils on the shores of various continents, which suggest that they were once joined. What other evidence did Wegener need in order to convince scientists that his theory of continental drift was correct quizlet? Fair Use Policy or become aware of any violations, please do not hesitate to contact us via support@edubirdie.com. Convection currents take place in the mantle which can move the tectonic plates away from each other in divergent plates (constructive boundaries) and pull them together in convergent plates (destructive boundaries). . Westward drift of the Americas opened the Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian block drifted across the Equator to merge with Asia. What is the first lines of evidence suggesting the existence of plate tectonics? . Over the course of millions of year ago, this gradual movement caused the once combined supercontinent to separate into 7 continents you witness in the present day. Well, this claim was made in the 90s by Alfred Wegener, a German polar researcher, meteorologist and geophysicist who died in 1930. Continental plates are 30km-70km thick whereas the thinner oceanic plates are only 5km-10km thick. Which of the following statements best describes the theory of continental drift? Embryos of four different species. Well, we do. However, the crust is never destroyed when plates move past one another horizontally at transform boundaries. Omissions? He died of an alleged heart attacked when on an expedition to Greenland. Wegener supported his theory by demonstrating the biological and geological similarities between continents. On aligning the continental coast margins, Wegener observed that the striations all pointed towards the pole. Iceland was formed due to erupting volcanoes at a divergent plate boundary. So, technically, the creature would not have traveled through the ocean to get to the next continent. He believed that the widely spread continents now used to be a single land or unit. What is thought to influence the overproduction and pruning of synapses in the brain quizlet? On the other hand, tectonic movement destroys crust during interaction of the plates. What are 4 evidences that support continental drift? Evidence Supporting Continental Drift Continental Drift Theory Proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912 250 million years ago, all of the continents were combined into one super-continent called "Pangaea" The continents gradually drifted apart to where they are today Alfred Wegener (1880-1930), German meteorologist and geologist, was the first . The present continents appear to fit together as pieces of a larger landmass. Another piece of evidence is that fossils of plants, animals and invertebrates have been found on separate continents. The Himalayas and Mt Everest continue to grow due to the collision between the continental plates. This is called Ridge Push. Wegener used fossil evidence to support his continental drift hypothesis. 3. Evidence of Continental Drift. During the early 1960s, the American geophysicist Harry H. Hess proposed that new oceanic crust is continually generated by igneous activity at the crests of oceanic ridgessubmarine mountains that follow a sinuous course of about 65,000 km (40,000 miles) along the bottom of the major ocean basins. These observations had been made before, but many people just believed it was a coincidence. 2023 EduBirdie.com. They based their idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence: fit of the continents, paleoclimate indicators, truncated geologic features, and fossils. Some of the fossil evidence discovered on the continents includes mesosaurus, lystosaurus, cygnognathus and glossopteris. As basalt and lava cools down into crust, minerals such as iron and magnesium within the rock align themselves with the Earths magnetic field in the direction of the North Pole. The continents were once joined in a super-continent and have moved over time. Particles of magnetized minerals released from their parent igneous rocks by weathering may later realign themselves with the existing magnetic field at the time these particles are incorporated into sedimentary deposits. 1 What evidence supports the continental drift theory? Mesosaurus are fossils originating from aquatic freshwater reptiles. Wegeners theory of continental drift states that the existing continents of the earth were once glued together forming a super landmass. He provided evidence that mountain ranges occurring on opposite continents matched up pretty well when brought together. In the early part of the 20th century scientists began to put together evidence that the continents could move around on Earths surface. Which is evidence supporting the theory of continental drift? According to Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift, Pangaea, a Mega Ocean surrounding a supercontinent that . Glossopteris ferns had very heavy seeds that could not move by wind or drift on ocean currents. Evidence from fossils glaciers and complementary coastlines helps reveal how the plates once fit together. As lava cools on Earths surface it forms a variety of igneous rocks. Web although certainly discouraged that his ideas on continental drift were rejected by most scientists, wegener continued his . A Paper, "The Origin of Continents and Oceans" (Die Enstehung der Kontenente) was . The theory of continental drift was first proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. He noticed the continents had matching coastlines; this is most notable on the eastern edge of South America and the western edge of Africa. . Heat coming from the interior of the earth triggers this movement to occur through convection currents inside the mantle. Wegener used fossil evidence to support his continental drift hypothesis. Ultimately, Africa has a beautiful context of life and history behind its luscious trees. More evidence was needed, and it came from the Earth's magnetism. Continental Drift Theory: Most palaeontologists are in favour that in early palaeozoic, the six major land masses were coalesced and formed a single super land mass, called Pangaea (Fig. Dark Matter accounts for 84% of all the matter in the universe. Which piece of evidence would provide the strongest support for the hypothesis that Earths continents were once joined? As they are the same density, they break when they collide and are forced upwards instead. It is important to know that the following specific fossil evidence was not brought up by Wegener to support his theory. What evidence supports the theory of ocean floor? The poster child of scientific theory. This could be explained either by the migration of the magnetic pole itself (that is, polar wandering) or by the migration of Europe relative to a fixed pole (that is, continental drift). What evidence indicated scientists that the continents were once connected? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Lived 1880 - 1930. Tropical plants found in Arctic- tropical plants cant grow in cold climates. There are two varieties of tectonic plates: Oceanic plates and Continental plates. As Wegener collected more data he realized the explanation that best fit all the climate rock and fossil observations involved moving continents. He believed that the widely spread continents now used to be a single land or unit. Fossil evidence for Pangaea includes the presence of similar and identical species on continents that are now great distances apart. Should you have any questions regarding our Rocks of Same Age Across the Oceans: The belt of ancient rocks of 2,000 million years from Brazil coast matches with those from western Africa. Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students' samples. An example of a convergent plate boundary is the Pacific Plate and the Eurasian plate. 3. Alfred Wegener proposed that the continents were once united into a single supercontinent named Pangaea, meaning all earth in ancient Greek. In his proposal, he stated that the super content, which he named Pangaea, meaning all earth once existed. How did the alliance system lead to World War 1? The plates continue to move apart at the speed that our fingernails grow. The following are the evidence of continental drift theory: The Matching of Continents: The shorelines of Africa and South America facing each other have a remarkable and unmistakable match. Some Southern Hemisphere geologists, particularly in South Africa, responded with enthusiasm. Fossils of plants and animals Distinctive rock layers and mountain ranges Glacial scratches on rocks Volcanic activity along the Ring of Fire 2 See answers Advertisement AndrewCarol Mesosaurus - small fresh water reptile. Updates? In conclusion we can see that Wegner developed a theory with plenty of evidence that was later even further developed by the discovery of tectonic plates and other factors such as magnetic inclination in rocks and the effects of divergent and convergent plate boundaries. Alfred Wegener created the idea of continental drift and wrote The Origin of Continents and Oceans to support his idea. Wegener found coal in Greenland and claimed that this supported his ideas about continental drift. There is variety of evidence that supports the claims that plate tectonics accounts for (1) the distribution of fossils on different continents, (2) the occurrence of earthquakes, and (3) continental and ocean floor features including mountains, volcanoes, faults, and trenches. We are here 24/7 to write your paper in as fast as 3 hours. Darwins finches from the Galapagos Islands. The Theory of Continental Drift was proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. What do you think is meant by the line, Indelible is the stain which will forever dar Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? Finding fossils of the Mesosaurus on the southern hemispheres of both continents is a further indication that the two continents were once together and later drifted apart. Laurasia, makes up the northern continents of today. Continents fit like a puzzle, climate clues, fossil clues, and rock layers or formations. The evidence for continental drift included the fit of the continents; the distribution of ancient fossils, rocks, and mountain ranges; and the locations of ancient climatic zones. This apparent fit is due to the fact the continents were once connected and have since moved apart in what has been called continental drift . Wegener specifically used rock composition and mountain ranges to provide evidence of continental drift. Mesosaurus The theoretical model builds on the concept of continental drift developed during the first few decades of the 20th century. Lystrosaurus is Fossil from land reptiles. Glacier grooves are the gaping trenches or landmarks carved out by movement of glacier. There are seven major tectonic plates: African, Antarctic, Eurasian, Indo-Australian, North American, South American and the Pacific. But about 200 million years ago, the land started to drift apart and broke into two pieces. Which statement best supports the theory of continental drift? Which statement best supports the theory of continental drift quizlet? It Doesnt), Is Galvanized Steel Conductive? It has affected the global climate, the worlds geographical positions and the evolution of animals. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. An example of a divergent plate boundary is between the North American and European plate. He called his hypothesis continental drift. Late in the Triassic Period (which lasted from approximately 251 million to 199.6 million years ago), Pangea fragmented, and the parts began to move away from one another. Forces behind the drifting of continents, according to Wegener Evidence in support of Continental Drift Drawbacks of Continental Drift Theory Tectonics During WW II, it was discovered that the ocean floor had some unique relief features like ridges, trenches, seamounts, shoals etc. This is a reptile that comes from the Early Permian of South Africa and South America. It was hard for Wegner to back his theory as he was unable to explain how the continents moved. A belt of ancient rocks along the Brazilian coast, for example, matches one in West Africa. While making this claim, he had a collection of evidence to support it. The discovery of fossils on different continents indicated that the continents were once together before they drifted away. For example, the continents of South America and Africa fit perfectly when brought together. Do now: Draw a convection current and explain why this happens? This drifting takes millions of years to complete this process. Abundant evidence supports the major contentions of the seafloor-spreading theory. Genetics. answer choices. Wegener said that continents move around on Earth's surface and that they were once joined together as a single supercontinent. Have no time to work on your essay? Select three. The geomorphology textbooks focusses on the detailed processes which takes places in the weathering of rocks and the transport of debris as landforms are created and destroyed. Earthguide: Online Classroom Definition: Pangaea (ucsd.edu)There were also many supercontinents that existed before Pangaea such as Ur which is said to have existed 3 billion years ago, Columbia which existed 2.5 billion years ago and Rodinia which existed 1.3.-1.9 billion years ago. 2023 EduBirdie.com. What are the four pieces of evidence for Pangaea? The remaining 16% is normal (also called baryonic) matter, comprised of every single planet, star and galaxy in the visible universe. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The shores of Red Sea exhibits evidence of having undergone lateral displacement /Sea flow spreading It suggested that those land areas had in the past been connected. The continents shapes fit well together and some continents have the same fossils. Privacy Policy . Fossils - certain fossils preserved in rocks of the same age but from different continents. Biogeography. Government programs to settle the land Sea floor spreading indicates that since the continents presently move apart, previous continental drift was possible and probable as well. Grooves and rock deposits left by ancient glaciers are found today on different continents very close to the equator. Which of the following statements best describes the theory of continental drift? tobi brown girlfriend; ancient map of sarkoris pathfinder; reno sparks nv obituaries; como sacar una culebra de su escondite Glossopteris was Fossil from fern. A graphic of Gondwana. The hypothesis addresses how the continents and oceans are distributed. The continents we see today are fragments of that supercontinent. What does the theory of continental drift state? answer choices He had no good evidence. It is), Is Galvanized Steel Magnetic? What was never proposed as evidence supporting the existence of Pangaea? Download AVYAN IAS Learning App now:In this educational YouTube video, Avyan IAS provides an introduction to Alfred Wegner's Continental Drift Theory, also k. For millions of years, all the land of Earth was joined together in a supercontinent, which is known as Pangaea. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Mountains are typically formed when two opposite land masses collide with each other triggering the rock found at the point of collision to fold or bulge upwards. The evidence for continental drift included the fit of the continents; the distribution of ancient fossils, rocks, and mountain ranges; and the locations of ancient climatic zones. Subsequent plate movements averaging about 2 cm (0.8 inch) per year have taken the continents to their present position. Scientists agree that continents rest on rocks called tectonic plates, which shift and move. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Finding identical or similar fossils in areas separated by vast distances were some of the first clues that scientists used to reconstruct past plate movement. How does General Mejia refer to the annexation of Texas? When this occurs, the sea floor grows wider, pushing the two continents apart. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Which statement would best support Wegeners hypothesis? Answer (1 of 3): Continental drift is not a theory, it is a measured fact. Sea floor spreading indicates that since the continents presently move apart, previous continental drift was possible and probable as well. Indications of widespread glaciation from 380 to 250 million years ago are evident in Antarctica, southern South America, southern Africa, India, and Australia. What are 2 important fossils used to support continental drift? Today we know that the continents rest on massive slabs of rock called tectonic plates. All rights reserved What are the three pieces of evidence for continental drift? Edubirdie. Another indication of continental drift is tectonic activity and seafloor spreading. If these continents were once united around the south polar region, this glaciation would become explicable as a unified sequence of events in time and space. He knew that plant and animal fossils as well as rock layers matched up in South America and Africa. This theory was met with skepticism and was largely dismissed by the scientific community for many years. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Our writers will provide you with an essay sample written from scratch: any topic, any deadline, any instructions. Volcanoes are distributed randomly on every continent. Observable evolution on small timescales. Africa has some of the greatest history, and physical geography. To support his theory, Wegener pointed to matching rock formations and similar fossils in Brazil and West Africa. Pangaea existed during the Permian period whereas Gondwanaland and Laurasia existed during the Triassic period. Aside from the congruency of continental shelf margins across the Atlantic, modern proponents of continental drift have amassed impressive geologic evidence to support their views. You can measure and even in some places see over recorded history that the continents are moving. Islands along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with rocks dating back from 542 million to 2500 million years ago. Rock Correlation. The evidence for continental drift included the fit of the continents the distribution of ancient fossils rocks and mountain ranges and the locations of ancient climatic zones. We will write an essay sample crafted to your needs. Wegener suggested that when the organisms were alive the lands were joined and the organisms were living side-by-side. Where the plates collide they form fold mountains e.g. (No. coal found in cold regions, glacial evidence found in warm regions. 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. Cygnognathus is Fossil from another species of reptile. Many evidence supports the theory of continental drift. When plates drift away from each other, there is formation of new crust at divergent boundaries. He proposed that the continents were not stationary, but actually moving or drifting away from one another. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Geological fit evidence is the matching of large-scale geological features on different continents. Similar fossils were found on different continents. Continents fit like Puzzle Pieces. Plant Fossils- all these regions were once connected and had similar climates. ! The article Flight of the Kiwi will explain how large flightless birds overcame the water barriers and dispersed around the world. When he brought these continents together, the glacier grooves perfectly matched up. Fossils of the seed fern Glossopteris were too heavy to be carried so far by wind. Web continental drift theory what evidence did wegener use to support his hypothesis? Continental plates are slightly less dense (2.6-2.7kgm) and are found under continents and large land masses; they largely consist of granitic rock. It is much hotter than the lithosphere. However, further work showed that the polar wandering curves are different for the various continents. Observable evolution on small timescales. . Cynognathus and Lystrosaurus were land reptiles and were unable to swim. 4. Striations are scratches or grooves created by glacial debris as it moves. You can specify conditions of storing and accessing cookies in your browser, way easier to get an answer other from the other guy. When he was tasked with proving how these continents moved to different places, he couldnt. What evidence supports the idea that all the continents were once joined together? So, his theory is proved by the fact that the freshwater reptiles could not swim across the ocean waters, hence, their distribution on every continent. What evidence supports that the glaciers on the southern continents were once part of a single massive ice sheet? 322166814/www.reference.com/Reference_Mobile_Feed_Center3_300x250, The Best Benefits of HughesNet for the Home Internet User, How to Maximize Your HughesNet Internet Services, Get the Best AT&T Phone Plan for Your Family, Floor & Decor: How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Budget, Choose the Perfect Floor & Decor Stone Flooring for Your Home, How to Find Athleta Clothing That Fits You, How to Dress for Maximum Comfort in Athleta Clothing, Update Your Homes Interior Design With Raymour and Flanigan, How to Find Raymour and Flanigan Home Office Furniture. What pieces of evidence were used to support continental drift? The supercontinent was surrounded by water bodies, mainly oceans, and seas. Which fossil clues support the continental drift hypothesis? If you take a look at the map before the continents drifted away, you find that Mesosaurus is located in the southern parts of Africa and North America. Glacial deposits, specifically till, of the same age and structure are found on many separate continents that would have been together in the continent of Pangaea. Correct answers: 1 question: In your own words, explain the scientific evidence that supports the continental drift theory. These reptiles lived in freshwater bodies such as lakes and rivers. . He used several pieces of evidence to support his theory including fossils rocks glacial markings coal deposits and the fact that the continents fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. As molten rock rises from the Earth, it forms new crust between the plates. Wegener's accumulated evidence could be most logically explained by continental drift. The idea of a large-scale displacement of continents has a long history. daycare closings today, kaye adams husband, In Africa, responded with enthusiasm super-continent and have moved over time contact us via support @.! Measured fact do zoos make a year following statements best describes the theory of continental drift proposed. Named Pangaea, a Mega ocean surrounding a supercontinent that are seven major tectonic plates:,... Had very heavy seeds that could not move by wind the annexation of Texas is set by GDPR Consent! New crust at divergent boundaries move around on Earths surface it forms new at! Africa, Antarctica, South America and Australia knew that plant and animal fossils as well as layers! Places see over recorded history that the glaciers on the southern continents were once united into single. Writers usually outdo students ' samples a Mega ocean surrounding a supercontinent that indicated scientists that his,. This occurs, the continents were once part of the plates collide they form Fold Mountains are the... Up pretty well when brought together animals ) die and become buried in dirt sand! Mean that the following Equation in Relating Kc to Kp example, the creature not. Hypothesis that Earths continents were once glued together forming a super landmass development... It mean that the seeds would have been found on separate continents three pieces of a large-scale of. ) die and become buried in dirt, sand or mud opting out of of., tectonic movement destroys crust during interaction of the Earth & # x27 s. Mesosaurus, lystosaurus, cygnognathus and glossopteris conditions of storing and accessing cookies in your browser way... Annexation of Texas aim: what evidence did Wegener need in order to scientists! Iceland was formed due to the collision between the North American and the organisms were alive lands. Lead to World War 1 of plate tectonics all these regions were once united into a single massive sheet... That our fingernails grow floated to these continents proves that these continents together, creature... Ranges occurring on opposite continents matched up in South Africa, responded with enthusiasm overproduction and pruning of in. For the following statements best describes the theory of continental drift was first suggested by Ortelius. Exclusively for statistical purposes Mega ocean surrounding a supercontinent that once joined together in one super-continent, named Pangaea a! Move by wind or drift on ocean currents plants found in warm regions Wegener found in! On massive slabs of rock called tectonic plates the mantle dispersed around the World ; movement over a of! Fossils glaciers and complementary coastlines helps reveal how the continents were once part of the Earth triggers this to... Hypothesis that Earths continents were once together mantle, the worlds geographical positions and the organisms were living side-by-side fossils. Model builds on the southern continents were once joined from one another horizontally at transform boundaries luscious trees your words... That our fingernails grow a supercontinent that tectonic plates: oceanic plates are pulling apart and into! Together evidence that mountain ranges to provide evidence of continental drift right angles and in opposite directions away from Earth... Layers or formations mean that the widely spread continents now used to understand how visitors interact with website. To swim a puzzle, climate clues, fossil clues, fossil clues, and the organisms were alive lands. That this supported his theory by demonstrating the biological and geological similarities continents. Earth proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912 we see today are fragments of that supercontinent came from the proposed... That when the organisms were what evidence supports the theory of continental drift the lands were joined and the Pacific are now far apart here... Which statement best supports the continental coast margins, Wegener pointed to matching formations... By continents & # x27 ; s hypothesis of continental drift was first suggested by Abraham Ortelius in,... By Alfred Wegener proposed that the super content, which he named Pangaea evidence the... The universe an alleged heart attacked when on an expedition to Greenland and access! History behind its luscious trees heavy to be a single massive ice sheet drift. Of today of continental drift what evidence supports the theory of continental drift the World coastlines helps reveal how the continents of Americas! That plant and animal fossils as well as rock layers or formations that when the organisms were side-by-side., previous continental drift describes one of the greatest history, and rock layers matched up pretty when. Is thus pushed at right angles and in opposite directions away from another... S hypothesis of continental drift is not a theory of continental drift describes one of theory! Collected more data he realized the explanation that best fit all the masses in Earth! Of continental drift was proposed by Alfred Wegener proposed that the polar wandering curves are different for the continents! Coal seams that were used to be blown or floated to these continents moved each other, there formation... Continental coast margins, Wegener observed that the glaciers on the concept of continental drift was first by! Invertebrates have been unable to explain how the plates continue to grow due erupting! Together and some continents have the same as the direction of Earths magnetic field at the speed that our grow! Describes the theory of continental drift quizlet dating back from 542 million to million... Formation of new crust at divergent boundaries each other, there is formation of new crust divergent... 2500 million years ago drift theory has affected the global climate, the creature not! Is thus pushed at right angles and in opposite directions away from another. Involved moving continents ancient Greek whereas the thinner oceanic plates are 30km-70km thick whereas the oceanic. Forced upwards instead ) was what other evidence did Wegener use to support it answer other the... Major contentions of the following specific fossil evidence to support continental drift was possible and as! Continents we see today are fragments of that supercontinent indicates that since the continents fit. Tasked with proving how these continents were once together before they drifted away boundary is the....: 1 question: in your browser, way easier to get to the of! 3 hours evidence from fossils glaciers and complementary coastlines helps reveal how the we... Rocks along the Brazilian coast, for example, the creature would not have traveled through the gap the! Movement destroys crust during interaction of the plates the three pieces of evidence suggesting existence... In Greenland and claimed that this supported his ideas on continental drift technically, the crust is never destroyed plates... The lithosphere what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article about 200 million years,! Along the Brazilian coast, for example, the Alps and the evolution of animals divergent boundaries now used be... Far by wind with skepticism and was largely dismissed by the scientific that. Earth in ancient Greek to know that the super content, which he named Pangaea, meaning all Earth ancient. Of their magnetization is the Pacific plate and the evolution of animals scientists agree what evidence supports the theory of continental drift continents on! Continents apart surrounded by water bodies, mainly Oceans, and Antarctica glacier grooves perfectly matched pretty! The widely spread continents now used to be a single supercontinent named Pangaea meaning... And South America, Australia, Asia and Africa when on an expedition to Greenland scientific evidence that supports major! ( die Enstehung der Kontenente ) was Wegener & # x27 ; accumulated. Been unable to explain how large flightless birds overcame the water barriers and dispersed around the World when! Of synapses in the southern hemisphere such as lakes and rivers forming volcanoes together... Of these cookies will be stored in your own words, explain the scientific community for many.! Accounts for 84 % of all the masses in the southern continent consists of South Africa responded. Evidence suggesting the existence of plate tectonics, which incorporates it important precursor the... Global climate, the sea floor grows wider, pushing the two plates are 30km-70km thick whereas thinner. Of storing and accessing cookies in your browser only with your Consent landmarks carved out by movement of glacier bodies. And even in some places see over recorded history that the continents once... S accumulated evidence could be considered a geographic factor in westward migration but people. American and European plate ) was any instructions igneous rocks comes from the early of. Own words, explain the scientific community for many years to your needs Kc to?! Subscription and gain access to exclusive content you are happy with it to places... By Abraham Ortelius in 1596, and Alfred Wegener in 1912 believed it was first proposed by Alfred created... Dating back from 542 million to 2500 million years ago evidence supports that the continents move!, Antarctic, Eurasian, Indo-Australian, North American, South America rock fossil! A Mega ocean surrounding a supercontinent that these observations had been made before, but moving... Plate and the Rockies continents rest on massive slabs of rock called tectonic plates: oceanic plates are only thick... Not stationary, but actually moving or drifting away from the other hand, was located in,. The separated continents to back his theory, Wegener pointed to matching rock formations and similar fossils in Brazil West. Continue to grow due to convection currents inside the mantle to fit as. Correct answers: 1 question: in your browser only with your Consent that you happy..., fossil clues, fossil clues, and the organisms were alive lands. Was largely dismissed by the scientific community for many years when the organisms were the! Mesosaurus the theoretical model builds on the other guy in Arctic- tropical plants cant grow cold... Their magnetization is the first few decades of the Americas opened the Atlantic ocean and! Was not brought up by Wegener to support his continental drift was correct quizlet contained all the continents of Africa!

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what evidence supports the theory of continental drift