The curves for Europe and North America, for example, are reconciled by the assumption that the latter has drifted about 30 westward relative to Europe since the Triassic Period. What fossil evidence supports the belief that all of these continents were once joined and known as Pangea? The remaining 16% is normal (also called baryonic) matter, comprised of every single planet, star and galaxy in the visible universe. Plant Fossils- all these regions were once connected and had similar climates. The Emu and Cassowary (Australia), Kiwi and Moa (New Zealand ), Rhea (South America) and Ostrich ( Africa) are members of a kin bird group called Ratites. They based their idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence: fit of the continents, paleoclimate indicators, truncated geologic features, and fossils. Watch Earth's continents move, from 650 million years ago to 250 million years in the future continental drift, large-scale horizontal movements of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time. Evidence Alfred Wegener collected diverse pieces of evidence to support his theory, including geological "fit" and fossil evidence. 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. Interest in continental drift increased in the 1950s as knowledge of Earths geomagnetic field during the geologic past developed from the studies of the British geophysicists Stanley K. Runcorn, Patrick M.S. He suggested that Pangaea broke up long ago and that the continents then moved to their current positions. The Earth is broken into lithospheric plates that move due to convection currents. Where the plates collide they form fold mountains e.g. It does not store any personal data. In 1937 Alexander L. Du Toit, a South African geologist, modified Wegeners hypothesis by suggesting two primordial continents: Laurasia in the north and Gondwana in the south. Continents fit like Puzzle Pieces. What pieces of evidence were used to support continental drift? Approximately every 400,000 years, the Earths polarity switches so we can see a series of stripes in the Atlantic Ocean where rocks are aligned alternately with the north and south poles. The supercontinent was surrounded by water bodies, mainly oceans, and seas. 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. Oceanic plates are thinner and found under the ocean, they are denser (3.0kgm) than continental plates and consist of basaltic rock. His primary sources of evidence included the fit of the continents, glacial till deposits, and the apparent shifting of climatic belts over time. Wegener supported his theory by demonstrating the biological and geological similarities between continents. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The "Wallace Line". A Paper, "The Origin of Continents and Oceans" (Die Enstehung der Kontenente) was . These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 4. Mesosaurus - small fresh water reptile. similar fossils found on different continents, This site is using cookies under cookie policy . The Wallace Line. The distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes.- Convection currents.- The theory of continental drift.- An overview of the processes and landforms at the major plate boundaries.- . 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. Fossils are the stongest evidences of plate tectonics. Paleontologists refer to the total of Earths dynamic as TECO events. What evidence did Wegner use to support his theory of continental drift? A. Evidence that supports the theory The Matching of Continents (Jig-Saw-Fit): The shorelines of Africa and South America facing each other match remarkably. Wegener found similar evidence when he discovered tropical plant fossils in the frozen region of the Arctic Circle. Access to steamboat Another piece of evidence is that fossils of plants, animals and invertebrates have been found on separate continents. 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. Evidence from fossils glaciers and complementary coastlines helps reveal how the plates once fit together. One of the strongest pieces of evidence is Continental break up/fit, this is the idea that the continents were once joined together. At divergent plate boundaries, the two plates are pulling apart and magma rises through the gap in the Earth forming volcanoes. Noting the apparent fit of the bulge of eastern South America into the bight of Africa, the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt theorized about 1800 that the lands bordering the Atlantic Ocean had once been joined. 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. Wegener used fossil evidence to support his continental drift hypothesis. Continental drift describes one of the earliest ways geologists thought continents moved over time. 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. The hypothesis addresses how the continents and oceans are distributed. What evidence did Wegener have for his theory of continental drift? answer choices He had no good evidence. space and science. . Why does Mount Everest grow each year? Which statement best supports the theory of continental drift? Find out everything you need to know about it here. As lava cools on Earths surface it forms a variety of igneous rocks. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. If you take a look at a map of the earth today, you will see the current locations of broken land masses that constitute the earth. 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. How did the alliance system lead to World War 1? 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. 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. Which means Antarctica must have had a much warmer climate at one point, supporting Wegners theory of Continental drift. After Wegener died on an arctic expedition in 1930, only a handful of loyal supporters continued to promote his ideas. The striations found on the southern continents all radiate from the center of the south part of Pangaea. The poster child of scientific theory. Wegener specifically used rock composition and mountain ranges to provide evidence of continental drift. What are the effects of light pollution on animals? Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. 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. According to the Lystrosaurus and Cygnognathus body anatomy, they are not designed for swimming. 2. For example, the continents of South America and Africa fit perfectly when brought together. answer choices. What are six pieces of evidence for the continental drift theory? Privacy Policy . Since these match up points consisted of the same kind of rock further proves that the continents were once together before breaking away and drifting. Observable evolution on small timescales. Fossils. Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? He provided evidence that mountain ranges occurring on opposite continents matched up pretty well when brought together. 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. What evidence supports the theory of continental drift? 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. Since the conception of his theories of natural and sexual selection in the mid to late 19th century, it has been easier to imagine Darwinism and feminism as adversaries rather than allies. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. There are similarities in the past climate in the different parts of the world /paleoclimatogical evidence; There are continuous mountain ranges made up of young volcanic rocks at the mid Atlantic. Dark matter is an incredibly elusive force which is necessary for many modern theories that describe the movement of galaxies and effectively all of the major elements of the universe. Which of the following was never proposed as evidence supporting the existence of Pangaea? Some life rode on diverging plates became isolated and evolved into new species. Watch Earth's continents move, from 650 million years ago to 250 million years in the future, 36 Questions from Britannicas Most Popular Science Quizzes, Discover the facts behind the theory of continental drift, Uncover Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift through biological and geological evidence and the theory of plate tectonics. Wegener suggested that when the organisms were alive the lands were joined and the organisms were living side-by-side. They based their idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence: fit of the continents paleoclimate indicators truncated geologic features and fossils. The theory of continental drift was first proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. Over time, the organism decays and the area it occupied is replaced with inorganic rock. 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 . For millions of years, all the land of Earth was joined together in a supercontinent, which is known as Pangaea. Which is an example of geological fit evidence? Geological features are best explained by continents' movement over a layer of mantle, the lithosphere. 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. Over time the continents change position relative to one another as they move. What is a Sand Dune: Formation and Types of Sand Dunes, Tropical Rainforest Biome: Climate, Precipitation, Location, Seasons, Plants and Animals, Copyright 2022 Earth Eclipse . 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. In the 1900's, Alfred Wegener presented an argument supporting continental drift. According to National Geographic, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics indicate that the continents do move or shift, which supports continental drift theory. The volcanoes around the edge of the pacific plate form what is called The Ring Of Fire.Collisional Plate boundaries diagram and explanation YouTubeTectonic plates provide evidence for Wegners theory as it gives physical evidence that the continents are moving. Which of the following statements best describes the theory of continental drift? (askinglot.com)Around the pacific plate where there are divergent and convergent plate boundaries, there is a lot of volcanic activity. 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). Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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. Volcanoes are distributed randomly on every continent. Answer (1 of 3): Continental drift is not a theory, it is a measured fact. Another evidence that supports the theory of continental drift is Paeomagnetism. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Some Southern Hemisphere geologists, particularly in South Africa, responded with enthusiasm. The fossils of these organisms are found on lands that are now far apart. Edubirdie. What supports Wegeners theory of plate tectonics? 1. THE CONTINENTAL DRIFT THEORY EVIDENCES AND EXAMPLES. Which piece of evidence would provide the strongest support for the hypothesis that Earths continents were once joined? Starting with the geological timescale, Alfred Lothar Wegener Biography Born in 1980 in Berlin son of an orphanage director As a child became fascinated with Greenland Graduated from UNI of Berlin with PHD in astronomy Instead of continuing with astronomy, pursued meteorology worked for Royal Prussian Aeronautical Observatory in Berlin. Oceanic ridges occur along some of the plate margins. This fossil plant has been found in Africa Australia India South America and Antarctica. Cygnognathus is Fossil from another species of reptile. continents look like puzzle pieces and seem to fit together. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). answer choices True Over the course of this essay I will review some of the evidence that support continental drift, such as fossil records and mountain ranges. (Yes. Contact Us . Biogeography. Evidence of Continental Drift. Answer 5: Fossils are formed when living organisms (plants or animals) die and become buried in dirt, sand or mud. Destruction happens when one plate moves below the other at convergent boundaries. We are here 24/7 to write your paper in as fast as 3 hours. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. How does coal in Greenland support the idea of continental drift? 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. 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. One of the clues he used was the glacier. In the early part of the 20th century scientists began to put together evidence that the continents could move around on Earths surface. What is continental drift theory explain with evidence? The discovery of plate tectonics in the 1960s provided a possible mechanism for continental drift, and since then the study of continental drift . identical rocks, mountains and structures. Together these discoveries supported the existence of Pangea. The central dogma of biology. Do now: Draw a convection current and explain why this happens? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. They based their idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence: fit of the continents paleoclimate indicators truncated geologic features and fossils. The Mesosaurs would not have been able to swim across the ocean due to the fact they are freshwater creatures (and the vast distance between continents), so the mesosaurs at some point must have been able to walk across the continents. The rock formations of eastern North America Western Europe and northwestern Africa were later found to have a common origin and they overlapped in time with the presence of Gondwanaland. How did Alfred Wegener come up with the idea of continental drift? Now, looking at the current map after drifting of the continents, Cygnognathus is situated in Africa and South America. The shores of Red Sea exhibits evidence of having undergone lateral displacement /Sea flow spreading It is a fern that was discovered in Africa, South America, Antarctica, India, and Australia. (No. How and why that is has a number of theories, but all those are consistent with evidence, including glacial evidence, other. This theory has explained the origin of continents and ocean basins. Glossopteris ferns had very heavy seeds that could not move by wind or drift on ocean currents. Tropical plants found in Arctic- tropical plants cant grow in cold climates. From jungles to desserts, and colonialism to urbanization. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. When he was tasked with proving how these continents moved to different places, he couldnt. Lived 1880 - 1930. What evidence did Wegener make use of to develop the theory of continental drift? As they collide, the pacific plate is subducted under the continental Eurasian plate. Continental drift describes one of the earliest ways geologists thought continents moved over time. What evidence did Wegener not support his hypothesis of continental drift? He provided evidence that mountain ranges occurring on opposite continents matched up pretty well when brought together. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. 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. How is sea floor spreading related to continental drift? Also, fitting the Americas with the continents across the Atlantic brings together similar kinds of rocks, fossils, and geologic structures. Which does not support the theory of continental drift? Fossil EvidenceSee also how to tell which nitrogen is most basic 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. Continental drift describes one of the earliest ways geologists thought continents moved over time. What pieces of evidence were used to support plate tectonics? Gondwanaland contained all the masses in the southern hemisphere such as Africa, Antarctica, South America and Australia. Genetics. What did Alfred Wegener use as evidence for his theory that the continents were once one giant land mass quizlet? What is thought to influence the overproduction and pruning of synapses in the brain quizlet? Alfred Wegener is credited with developing the continental drift hypothesis. Temperature and pressure both increase with depth. Plate tectonics is a scientific theory describing the large-scale motion of 7 large plates and the movements of a larger number of smaller plates of the Earth's lithosphere, over the last hundreds of millions of years. We can also see that the basaltic rock gets older the further we travel from the mid Atlantic ridge, showing that new basaltic rock is made as the magma rises from the diverging plates. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Today, the theory of continental drift has been replaced by the science of plate tectonics.The theory of continental drift is most associated with the scientist Alfred Wegener.In the early 20th century, Wegener published a paper explaining his theory that the continental landmasses were . He knew that plant and animal fossils as well as rock layers matched up in South America and Africa. Rodinia lasted around 500 million years before it began to break apart and rejoin together to form Pangaea which is seen as the origin of the continents we have today. 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. none of the above. The discovery of fossils on different continents indicated that the continents were once together before they drifted away. It is), Causes and Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion, Causes and Effects to Environmental Pollution, Causes and Effects of Ocean Acidification, Causes and Effects of Marine Habitat Loss, 35+ Outstanding Facts About the Planet Earth. could scientists produce the hard evidence to support Holmes's fundamental concept. Theory of the Continental Drift. 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. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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. ken the character for virtue falsely attributed to the people of the United States. What Is The Geographical Significance Of The Russian Plain, What Is The Role Of Dna In Determining An OrganismS Traits, What Was A Main Reason Large Plantations Developed In The South During The Colonial Period. The effects of light pollution on animals received from contributors those are consistent with,! 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Did Wegener have for his theory of continental drift is Paeomagnetism Origin of continents oceans! Antarctica, South America their idea of continental drift the pacific plate is subducted the... Sand or mud sea floor spreading related to continental drift theory been found on lands that are now far.... Now: Draw a convection current and explain why this happens truncated geologic features and fossils found. Wegener not support the idea that the continents and oceans & quot ; and magma through... Tropical plants cant grow in cold climates glossopteris ferns had very heavy seeds could... The discovery of fossils on different continents indicated that the continents, Cygnognathus is situated in Africa Australia South! Of rocks, fossils, and colonialism to urbanization become buried in dirt, or.