Continental drift theory peninsular india paleontological evidence. A map of the continents inspired wegeners quest to explain earths geologic history. Continental drift, largescale horizontal movements of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time. Bringing together a large mass of geologic and paleontological data, wegener postulated that throughout most of geologic time there was only one continent, which he called pangea. Evidence for continental drift wegener gathered evidence for his hypothesis from fossils, from studies of ancient climate, and from the geology of continents. There he argued for the separation of wegeners pangea into the two super continents, laurasia and gondwana. In 1912, alfred wegener proposed a theory that the continents had once been joined, and over time had drifted apart. Summary in the early part of the 20th century, scientists began to put together evidence that the continents could move around on earths surface. 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.
It would be almost half a century before this problem began to be solved. Fossils certain fossils preserved in rocks of the same age but from different continents. Continental drift what is, theory, evidence, stages. It wasnt until the middle to late1960s that plate tectonic theory was generally. Use those same colors to color each type of fossil or mountain belt according to your legend. Continental drift refers to the movement of the continents relative to each other. The theory deals with the distribution of the oceans and the continents.
In this article we will discuss about continental drift. Geological evidence bearing upon continental drift. Theory of continental drift the continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20th century, mostly by alfred wegener. Plate tectonics is a relatively new scientific concept, introduced some 30 years ago, but it has revolutionized our understanding of the dynamic planet upon. These similarities did not provide direct evidence of motion. Mesosaurus small fresh water reptile glossopteris plant remains. Theory of continental was purposed by alferedwegner in 1912 3. 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. Late in the triassic period which lasted from approximately 251 million to 199. Another important piece of evidence in the continental drift theory is the fossil relevance. Paleomagnetism and the proof of continental drift learning. Continental drift is a theory that explains how continents manage to change position on the earths surface. Learn continental drift theory geology with free interactive flashcards. While its forerunnerthe theory of continental drifthad its inception as early as the late 16th century, plate tectonics only emerged and matured as a widely accepted theory since the 1960s see this dynamic earth booklet.
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. The coasts of the continents surrounding the atlantic ocean could, if the continents were moved closer, fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Alfred wegener proposed that the continents had once been massed together in a single supercontinent and then gradually drifted apart. Continental drift a brief history of continental drift theories continued 1944 arthur holmes suggests a mechanism for continental drift based on convection currents in the earths mantle. Continental drift plates in the crust of the earth, according to the plate tectonics theory from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia continental drift is the movement of the earths continents relative to each other. Although he had a lot of evidence to support the theory, he could not explain how the plates moved.
The trends of the mountains in the eastern usa and northwest europe are similar when placed in their old positions. It has been noted that the coastlines of south america and west africa seem to match up, however more particularly the terrains of separate continents conform as well. Tuzo wilson, led to widespread acceptance of the theory among geologists. Several kinds of geological evidence bearing on continental drift, apart from palaeomagnetism, will be discussed. Wegener was intrigued by the occurrences of geologic structures and of plant and. Taylor was first prompted to consider continental drift by noting the similarity of the rock strata and geological structures of the appalachian and caledonian mountain belts of eastern usa and nw europe respectively.
Historical geologycontinental drift wikibooks, open books. On the puzzle pieces handout, assign a color to each type of fossil or mountain belt in. He wrote the origin of continents and oceans dealing with the theory in 1915. Wegener explicitly presented his theory as a means to reconcile historical geology with isostasy. Wegener and his theory of continental drift indian academy of. Continental drift and the more recent science of plate tectonics are now the bedrock of modern geology. The evidence which gave rise to the theory of continental drift more correctly called plate tectonics includes the following. Continental drift theory evidences and limitations. Mar 12, 2020 continental drift, largescale horizontal movement of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time.
Geological fit evidence is the matching of largescale geological features on different continents. The arguments largely concerned similarities between nowseparated continents. Geological evidence rocks of the same age and type and displaying the same formations are found in southeast brazil and south africa. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. In this section, we explain how the study of such magnetic behaviour led to the realization that rocks preserve paleomagnetism, a record of earths magnetic. Wegener supported his argument with five lines of evidence. Alfred wegener, pangea, and the evidence for continental. Continental drift and plate tectonics university of iceland. Wegener first presented his theory of continental drift publicly in a lecture on january 6, 1912. Geology continental drift theory flashcards quizlet. The theory of plate tectonics is a relatively new scientific concept. This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it. Tectonics, continental drift theory by alfred wegener, evidence and drawbacks of continental drift theory.
During the nineteentwenties and thirties there was a vigorous controversy as to whether the continents have moved. The development of the theory of continental drift and plate tectonics illustrates. Pdf alfred wegenerfrom continental drift to plate tectonics. Geologic evidence for continental drift earthquake. The reaction to alfred wegeners theory tells us much about the workings of science.
Wegener collected from the published literature other lines of geological evidence, such as close similarities in rock formations, which tended to confirm contiguity. Today, the subject of continental drift has been subsumed into plate tectonics, the science which deals with every aspect of the motion of lithospheric plates. The continuity of the appalachian fold belt of eastern north america with the caledonian fold belt of northern europe, illustrated in fig. Continental drift a2 geography linkedin slideshare. The most obvious is the fitting of continental margins, as around the atlantic, with excellent shapefit and with truncated geological structures and distributions dating from before the drift becoming continuous, when supposedly. Fossils wegener learned that the fossils of an ancient reptile, mesosaurus mehzuhsawruhs, had been discovered in south america and western africa. 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. Dec 16, 2019 continental drift refers to the movement of the continents relative to each other.
Provide some evidences to support it and its limitation wegener took inspiration from a map of continents to explain the earths geologic history. Wegener said that continents move around on earths surface and that they were once joined together as a single supercontinent. Pdf styles of thought on the continental drift debate. Continental drift theory free download as powerpoint presentation. This was the time when reptiles and winged insects first appeared. Scientists have discovered that continents have moved from their current. However, over the past 50 years, scientists have used the theory of continental drift to develop the. This video explores how the apparent fit of the continents, fossil and rock. Dec 19, 2017 evidence for continental drift a map of the continents inspired wegeners quest to explain earths geologic history. In this lesson we looked at the theory of continental drift, an idea put forward by german scientist alfred wegener.
Jun 27, 2014 what is the evidence of continental drift. Evidence for continental drift a map of the continents inspired wegeners quest to explain earths geologic history. Theory of continental drift physical geography lumen learning. There are various examples of fossils found on separate continents and in no other regions. Continental drift is the motion of the earths continents over geological time. Continental drift wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Continental drift an overview sciencedirect topics. These important discoveries led to the field of tectonics in geology. There is now direct evidence for motion of hundreds of kilometres and perhaps of over km on transcurrent faults. Similarly, wegener investigated the continuity of precambrian rocks and geological structures between south america and africa. The book was revised in 1920, 1922 and 1929 in response to criticisms of the theory and advances in earth sciences.
It combines the continental drift theory proposed in 1912 by alfred wegener in germany. However, over the past 50 years, scientists have used the theory of continental drift to develop the current theory the theory of plate tectonics. Continental drift theory continental drift is the hypothesis that all the continents had once been joined together in a single landmass. 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. Choose from 500 different sets of continental drift theory geology flashcards on quizlet. Alfred lothar wegener nov, 1, 1880 1930 was a german polar researcher, geophysicist and meteorologist.
According to the hypothesis of continental drift, continents have moved slowly to their current locations. Another important piece of evidence in the continental drift theory. A brief overview of the theory of continental drift and the evidence supporting it. Inspect evidence for the theory of continental drift involving plate. Continental drift journal of the geological society. He published his observations in a geological comparison of south america with south africa1927, and later he developed his ideas in our wandering continents1937.
Continental drift and the development of plate tectonic theory. Within the sedimentary deposits associated with fold belts there is often further 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. The fit is even more impressive if the continents are joined together along the edges of their continental. For more details on this topic, see plate tectonics. 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. According to wegeners continental drift theory, all the continents were one single continental mass called a super continent pangaea and a mega ocean surrounded this supercontinent. Continental drift is the theory that the continents have shifted their positions over time. 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.
Seafloor spreading theory sfst seafloor spreading describes the movement of. According to the continental drift theory, the supercontinent pangaea began to break up about 225200 million years ago, eventually fragmenting into the continents as we know them today. The first truly detailed and comprehensive theory of continental drift was proposed in 1912 by alfred wegener, a german meteorologist. Gy 111 lecture note series university of south alabama.
Continental drift theory evidences and limitations question throw some light on theory of continental drift. Wegener supported his continental drift idea with 5 lines of evidence. It also explains why certain animal and plant fossils and similar rock formations. You will be piecing together a puzzle of the supercontinent pangea based on fossil and rock evidence on the present day continents. The speculation that continents might have drifted was first put forward by abraham ortelius in 1596. 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. The continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early 20th century, by alfred wegener, who said that continents moved on the earths surface until they came together as a single super continent. He is most remembered as the original theorist of the theory of continental drift by hypothesizing that the continents are slowly drifting around the earth. Pdf a historical account of how continental drift and plate tectonics. Plate tectonicsthe unifying theory of geology geology. This evidence for continental drift gave geologists renewed interest in understanding how continents could move about on the planets surface. The most obvious is the fitting of continental margins, as around the atlantic, with excellent shapefit and with truncated geological structures and distributions dating from before the drift becoming continuous, when supposedly sundered continents are restored to presumed. Explanation of the continental drift theory in the light of vertebrate distribution. An understanding of paleomagnetism provided proof of continental drift and, contributed to the development of plate tectonics theory.
792 899 201 1451 1109 886 326 1209 1201 641 600 319 1226 1068 195 1277 568 943 867 1281 66 1193 454 946 428 1324 806 58 305 688 1253 1419 1035 488 17 812 1041 520 942 1095 509 784 1480 743 661 114