Try to work out which of these pieces of evidence wegener might have used in the 1920s to support his continental drift theory. It combines the continental drift theory proposed in 1912 by alfred wegener in germany. The theory of continental drift was first put forward by abraham ortelius in 1596 but was more fully developed by alfred wegener in 1912. An idea before its time list and explain the evidence wegener presented to support his continental drift. The following fossil evidence supports the idea of continental drift. 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. 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. The first piece of the evidence explains why parts of continents, such as the west coast of africa and the east coast of south america, seem to fit together like two jigsaw puzzle pieces. This is a list of the evidence that is used in support of plate tectonic theory today. This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it. How did fossils provide evidence for continental drift.
What is evidence supports the theory of continental drift. 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. Wegener used 3 types of evidence to prove his theory. Chandra garcia uses continentshaped puzzle pieces to teach her students about continental drift. This surprising fact is easily explained by continental drift. Wegeners supporting facts include fossil evidence, land features, climate evidence, and sea floor spreading.
Wegeners evidence fossil evidence fossils are remains of living things that lived long ago. The continental drift theory is a theory because there is no evidence to support it. It finally led to the development of the theory of seafloor spreading and plate tectonics. Evidence for continental drift wegener gathered evidence for his hypothesis from fossils, from studies of ancient climate, and from the geology of continents. Lystrosaurus fossils may serve as indicators of the boundary between the permian and triassic periods and also are part of the body of evidence supporting the theory of continental drift.
Continental drift a2 geography linkedin slideshare. Scientists discovered the fossils of many identicalappearing species on widely separated continents. Students will interpret the evidence to formulate a hypothesis. The hypothesis of continental drift led to plate tectonicsa theory that explains many processes in earth. 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. Dec 19, 2017 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. 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 speculation that continents might have drifted was first put forward by abraham ortelius in 1596. A brief overview of the theory of continental drift and the evidence supporting it. Continental drift, pangaea, fossil learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. In this, and several further papers and books, wegener used evidence from the fossil record to support his theory of continental drift. Which land features support the theory of continental drift. Pdf a historical account of how continental drift and plate tectonics. Cut out each of the continents along the edge of the continental shelf the outermost dark line. Color the legend on the puzzle pieces handout according to the key. Identical fossil remains across the continents that supported. The distribution of fossils and plate tectonics theory. Stratigraphy and fossil evidence a in depth look into biology.
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. 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. Use those same colors to color each type of fossil or mountain belt according to your legend. Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on earths surface. Most geologists will doubtless agree with sir arthur smith woodward as to the need for caution in the interpretation of some of the fossil evidence which has been regarded as supporting the. Wegener explicitly presented his theory as a means to reconcile historical geology with isostasy.
Alfred wegener, pangea, and the evidence for continental drift. Fossil evidence helped prove the theory of continental drift because similar fossils could be found on separate continents, in rocks of roughly the same age, surrounded by layers that matched each other, and in some cases, found nowhere else in the. Wegeners five main pieces of evidence he used to support. The coasts of the continents surrounding the atlantic ocean could, if the continents were moved closer, fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Two fossils in particular served as good evidence for the idea that the continents were once joined but have since separated. 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.
Alps, had one take on the theory of global contraction. What are the 4 pieces of evidence for continental drift. If according to the theory of continental drift there as only one. Seafloor spreading theory sfst seafloor spreading describes the movement of. Fossils wegener learned that the fossils of an ancient reptile, mesosaurus mehzuhsawruhs, had been discovered in south america and western africa. Fossil evidence helped prove the theory of continental drift because similar fossils could be found on separate continents, in rocks of roughly the same age, surrounded by layers that matched each other, and in some cases, found nowhere else in the world. One of the shreds of evidence of continental drift is the fact that there are some fossils that seem to be the same that can be found in various places that are far away from each other. One indication of this possibility is the appearance of the western african and eastern south american coasts, which look like two interlocking jigsaw. Fossils certain fossils preserved in rocks of the same age but from different continents. 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. 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. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangaea based on fossil and rock evidence on the presentday continents. Dear friends, please support this channels development, like, comment, and subscribe.
Students will use the evidence to try to reconstruct the continents. Its fossils are found only in south america and south west africa. Continental drift and the more recent science of plate tectonics are now the bedrock of modern geology. Continental drift refers to the movement of the continents relative to each other. Which fossil evidence supports the idea of continental. According to national geographic, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics indicate that the continents do move or shift, which supports continental drift theory. Fossils of the mesosaurus, an ancient freshwater reptile found in the southern parts of south america and africa, also indicate that the two continents could have once been one solid. Although the evidence for continental drift was extremely strong, scientists rejected the idea because no mechanism for how solid continents could move around on the. 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.
Pdf alfred wegenerfrom continental drift to plate tectonics. Drift away continental drift theory at first nobody believed alfred wegeners theory why you ask. The word fossil was coined more than 500 years ago, by german scientist georgius agricola, though records describing fossils are much older. The evidence which gave rise to the theory of continental drift more correctly called plate tectonics includes the following. 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. The fit of south america and africa and the geographic distribution of fossils and ancient 2. What are 3 pieces of evidence for continental drift answers. Just as today as we stand on the shoulders of giants, wegener built from suess and from the natural worlds rebuttal of a shrinking earth through the discovery of radioactive decay. The theory of continental drift reconciled similar fossil plants and.
Fossil evidence for continental drift mesosaurus fossils of mesosaurus, a freshwater, crocodilelike reptile that lived during the early triassic time period between 250 and 200 million years ago, are found only in southern africa and eastern south america. What evidence of climate change on continents supports the theory of continental drift. Be sure to explain how it supports continental drift. Jun 27, 2014 jack oliver jack oliver provided a research paper on plate tectonics that proved vital in providing hard evidence for the existence of continental drift, which was released in 1968. Wegeners puzzling evidence exercise 6th grade although alfred wegener was not the first to suggest that continents have moved about the earth, his presentation of carefully compiled evidence for continental drift inspired decades of scientific debate. Alfred wegener developed the continental drift theory in the 1800s. This video explores how the apparent fit of the continents, fossil and rock correlation, and paleoclimate data. Continental drift theory continental drift is the hypothesis that all the continents had once been joined together in a single landmass. Theory of continental drift the continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20th century, mostly by alfred wegener. In 1912, alfred wegener proposed a theory that the continents had once been joined, and over time had drifted apart. Wegener had four major pieces of evidence supporting his theory. Wegeners continental drift meets wilsons plate tectonics. Other fossil evidence also supports the theory of continental drift.
Shape of the continents continents fit together like puzzle pieces. Alfred wegener and the theory of continental drift. Alfred wegener gave many facts that help prove his continental drift theory. Another important piece of evidence in the continental drift theory is the fossil relevance. The reaction to alfred wegeners theory tells us much about the workings of science. How did fossil evidence support the theory of continental drift. Wegener said that continents move around on earths surface and that they were once joined together as a single supercontinent. It is interesting to note that suess died in 1914 while wegeners famous continental drift theory was presented in 1912. It actually means having been dug up in its original latin form. Glossopteris is a seed plant that appeared suddenly during the permian period and rapidly spread throughout gondwana, the landmass which later became south america, australia, africa and antarctica. This was the time when reptiles and winged insects first appeared.
Wegener supported his argument with five lines of evidence. Wegener and others who advocated the continental drift hypothesis collected substantial evidence to support their point of view. How does the fossil record support the theory of continental. Pdf what is the nature of the force or mechanism that moves massive continents thousands of. Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on. Mesosaurus small fresh water reptile glossopteris plant remains. Continental drift and plate tectonics university of iceland.
His contribution helped evolved the understanding the direction of drift and evidence supporting it. Continental drift, largescale horizontal movement of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time. 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. Alfred wegener proposed that the continents had once been massed together in a single supercontinent and then gradually drifted apart.
Students will examine one method for creating a twodimensional map of a spherical surface. The concept was independently and more fully developed by alfred wegener in 1912, but his theory was rejected by many for. Which fossil evidence supports the idea of continental drift. Continental drift is a theory originally proposed by alfred wegener, who believed the continents were once one large continent known as pangaea that later separated into several continents. Mesosaurus was an early aquatic relative of reptiles, and lived in freshwater lakes and. The idea that continental drift has taken place came up primarily because of study of fossils discovered from different corners of earth. Oct 12, 2018 a brief overview of the theory of continental drift and the evidence supporting it. Students will defend their position on continental drift. Fossil relatives the mesosaurus is a type of lizard that is now extinct.
This is proof that in the past, the continents are set close to each other. Evidence of the pangaea supercontinent larry pearson. The apparent fit south america and africa appear to fit together like puzzle pieces fossil correlation the same exact fossils are found on opposite sides of the atlantic ocean rock correlation the same exact rocksmountains are found on opposite sides of the atlantic ocean. Working in small groups and using fossil evidence, students must work cooperatively and find 5th and 6th grade science lesson plan continental drift. Dinosaur fossils provide 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. Continental drift an overview sciencedirect topics. Early in the 20th century, a german geologist named alfred wegener proposed his theory of continental drift, which was a precursor to the modern theory of plate tectonics. Wegener and his theory of continental drift springerlink. Each group will present what they found with their piece of evidence using a map or their continental cutouts to explain their information. Set forth in 1912 by alfred wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also. First, they theorized that separate species developed identically across the farflung continents, a notion that was highly unlikely. This theory was the first comprehensive theory to talk about the drifting of continents. In the beginning of wegeners research to prove his continental drift theory, he found clues from fossil evidence from millions of years ago.
Explain how fossils provide to evidence to support the. How did fossil evidence support the theory of continental. Explain how fossils provide to evidence to support the theory. There are various examples of fossils found on separate continents and in no other regions.
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. However, over the past 50 years, scientists have used the theory of continental drift to develop the current theory the theory. Alfred wegeners fossil evidence for continental drift is shown on the cutouts. The 1968 paper finally proved wegener right and continental drift was accepted by the world of science. When mesosaurus was alive, south west africa and south america must have been joined. Alfred wegener, pangea, and the evidence for continental.
Based on the similarity of fossils in africa and south america, he proposed that these two continents were once joined together and that the atlantic ocean opened up between. Wegener and his theory of continental drift indian academy of. 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. What evidence is there of the continental drift theory. In some places, it slides under the continental crust and. The evidence for continental drift included the fit of the continents. Subduction zone oceanic crust is heavier than continental crust. 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. The rejection of continental drift uc press journals. What sequence of events have unfolded for earth to support life and for it to evolve. What are six things that supported wegeners theory of continental drift. Dec 16, 2019 continental drift refers to the movement of the continents relative to each other. Lystrosaurus therapsids, such as lystrosaurus, were mammallike reptiles that thrived early in the triassic period 252 million to 201 million years ago.