Grooves and rock deposits left by ancient glaciers are found today on different continents very close to the equator. 3 Which is evidence supporting the theory of continental drift? What evidence supports the continental drift theory? How did Alfred Wegener come up with the idea of continental drift? 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. What are the 6 pieces of evidence for the theory of continental drift? 2. 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. According to the latter hypothesis, Earths surface, or lithosphere, is composed of a number of large, rigid plates that float on a soft (presumably partially molten) layer of the mantle known as the asthenosphere. This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Other examples of Fold Mountains are: The Andes, The Alps and The Rockies. Sea floor spreading indicates that since the continents presently move apart, previous continental drift was possible and probable as well. By basing it on evidence, Wegener stated that the mesosaurus can also be found in other continents. As we travel further from the mid Atlantic ridge we can see the alignment changing which proves the continents have been moving away from each other. Contact Us . You can order a unique, plagiarism-free paper written by a professional writer. Plate Tectonics Theory of Continental Drift The continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20th century, mostly by Alfred Wegener. 4. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Late Paleozoic sedimentary rocks often contain extensive coal seams that were used to support the existence of Pangaea. Wegener found coal in Greenland and claimed that this supported his ideas about 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. Because Wegener could not identify a mechanism capable of moving continents. After Wegener died on an arctic expedition in 1930, only a handful of loyal supporters continued to promote his ideas. Continents fit like Puzzle Pieces. 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. Observable evolution on small timescales. Have no time to work on your essay? Our writers will provide you with an essay sample written from scratch: any topic, any deadline, any instructions. What were some of the main problems in cities around the turn of the 20th century? One evidence of this is the existence of the same animals and plants on the different continents. On top of that, Lystrosaurus is situated in Antarctica, India, and Africa according to the modern map. Also, the article explores the idea of if the Kiwi bird came first or the egg. Glacier grooves are the gaping trenches or landmarks carved out by movement of glacier. The theory of continental drift was supported by the theory of plate tectonics, which has been explained elaborately in Section 6. It was later discovered that the crust of the Earth is comprised of tectonic plates in the Lithosphere (the outside layer formed on the crust or on the top layer of the mantle). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This indicates that the continents were once fixed together and drifted apart over time. The Fossil Record. Omissions? answer choices He had no good evidence. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Set forth in 1912 by Alfred Wegener a geophysicist and meteorologist continental drift also explained why look-alike animal and plant fossils and similar rock formations are found on different continents. Wegener suggested that perhaps the rotation of the Earth caused the continents to shift towards and apart from each other. The supercontinent was surrounded by water bodies, mainly oceans, and seas. The force of subduction can cause volcanoes to erupt and earthquakes to occur around the subduction zone. Darwins finches from the Galapagos Islands. South America and Africa contain fossils of animals found only on those two continents, with corresponding geographic ranges. It was hard for Wegner to back his theory as he was unable to explain how the continents moved. Terms of Use, Evidence in Support of the Continental Drift: Analytical Essay., Evidence in Support of the Continental Drift: Analytical Essay [Internet]. 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. Wegener's accumulated evidence could be most logically explained by continental drift. Increased knowledge about the configuration of the ocean floor and the subsequent formulation of the concepts of seafloor spreading and plate tectonics provided further support for continental drift. As the crust rises, gravity forces it away from the margin, driving the crust. Genetics. How do you fix wet condensation on walls? Embryos of four different species. The Earth is broken into lithospheric plates that move due to convection currents. 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. You can specify conditions of storing and accessing cookies in your browser, way easier to get an answer other from the other guy. One of the first lines of evidence suggesting the existence of plate tectonics was the discovery of very similar fossils in rock masses separated by vast distances and by ocean expanses. 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. 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. Africa has some of the greatest history, and physical geography. space and science. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Other fossil evidence also supports the theory of continental drift. This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. 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. Background on the Ground Alfred Wegener was the developer of a new theory of the earth's surface called continental drift, and he was an adept investigator, but he passed away in 1930 with his. (Yes. This drifting takes millions of years to complete this process. could scientists produce the hard evidence to support Holmes's fundamental concept. This is a reptile that comes from the Early Permian of South Africa and South America. He discovered glacier groves in continents that were not cold enough to support snow formation in the present day. Ferromagnetic minerals such as magnetite acquire a permanent magnetization when they crystallize as constituents of igneous rock. 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. By Staff Writer Last Updated March 29, 2020 According to National Geographic, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics indicate that the continents do move or shift, which supports continental drift theory. Wegener supported his theory by demonstrating the biological and geological similarities between continents. It has a density of 5.6kgm at the core and a density of 3.3kgm at the Moho (the boundary between the mantle and the crust). What evidence did Wegener not support his hypothesis of continental drift? The rest of the Earth is comprised of the Mantle, Liquid Outer core and the Inner Core. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The northern continent consists of Europe, North America, and Asia. This is called Ridge Push. Biogeography. The fossils of these organisms are found on lands that are now far apart. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The fossils of these organisms are found on lands that are now far apart. Some of the fossil evidence discovered on the continents includes mesosaurus, lystosaurus, cygnognathus and glossopteris. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. 1. As molten rock rises from the Earth, it forms new crust between the plates. Another important piece of evidence in the Continental Drift theory is the fossil relevance. Several types of evidence supported Hess's theory of sea-floor spreading: eruptions of molten material, magnetic stripes in the rock of the ocean floor, and the ages of the rocks themselves. The hypothesis addresses how the continents and oceans are distributed. 4 What is evidence use to prove continental drift? Which two pieces of fossil evidence supports the idea of continental drift? However, the crust is never destroyed when plates move past one another horizontally at transform boundaries. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. What is thought to influence the overproduction and pruning of synapses in the brain quizlet? Which type of evidence was NOT used by Alfred Wegener to support his continental drift hypothesis? 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. Plant Fossils- all these regions were once connected and had similar climates. Available from: https://edubirdie.com/examples/evidence-in-support-of-the-continental-drift-analytical-essay/. What is evidence use to prove continental drift? All rights reserved Sea floor spreading indicates that since the continents presently move apart, previous continental drift was possible and probable as well. Wegener, in his expedition, discovered glacier grooves in all the continents. The central dogma of biology. This theory has explained the origin of continents and ocean basins. 2. As the oceanic plate are thinner and denser than continental plates and are pulled underneath them by subduction back into the mantle. He suggested that Pangaea broke up long ago and that the continents then moved to their current positions. In this essay I will describe more in-depth about the Earths dynamic structure and how plate tectonics affected biotas. Continents are stationary and do not move. 6 pieces of evidence for continental drift. Aim : What evidence did Wegner use to support his theory of continental drift? What are the 5 evidences of continental drift? Wegner also noticed that rocks and mountain ranges across continents looked similar and were similar ages, the belt of ancient rocks of 2,000 million years ago from the Brazilian coast matches with those from western Africa he also noticed that there were similar geological sequences in eastern Canada and Scotland. What was the name of the reptile that Wegners found in both South America and Africa? Embryology, similarity, and vestigial structures. As magma rises it forces the crust to rise at the ridge. He suggested that Pangaea broke up long ago and that the continents then moved to their current positions. Over the course of this essay I will review some of the evidence that support continental drift, such as fossil records and mountain ranges. Well, we do. The poster child of scientific theory. At convergent plates, oceanic and continental plates collide. Where this is the case, the lithospheric plates separate, and the upwelling mantle material forms new ocean floor along the trailing edges. 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. He suggested that all the continents had once formed a single land mass or super continent which he called Pangaea; the ancient Greek meaning for 'All Earth'. Which statement would best support Wegeners hypothesis? Get your paper done in as fast as 3 hours, 24/7. In addition, South America and Africa looked like they could fit together like puzzle pieces. When this occurs, the sea floor grows wider, pushing the two continents apart. . (Yes. 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. 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. Another indication of continental drift is tectonic activity and seafloor spreading. His primary sources of evidence included the fit of the continents, glacial till deposits, and the apparent shifting of climatic belts over time. Which of the following statements best describes the theory of continental drift? What are the 4 pieces of evidence that support plate tectonics? 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. 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. The distribution of these reptiles in different continents proves that these separate land masses were once together before splitting. On the other hand, tectonic movement destroys crust during interaction of the plates. Paleoclimate Data. What are 5 pieces of evidence of continental drift? For example, fossils of Mesosaurus, a freshwater reptile, have been found both in Brazil and western Africa. 1. What are six pieces of evidence for the continental drift theory? 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. Alfred Wegeners Evidence of Continental Drift Theory. The theoretical model builds on the concept of continental drift developed during the first few decades of the 20th century. Rocks of Same Age Across the Oceans: radiometric dating methods have correlated the rock formation in different continents. Which statement best supports the theory of continental drift? They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. One indication of this possibility is the appearance of the western African and eastern South American coasts, which look like two interlocking jigsaw puzzle pieces. 1. They based their idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence: fit of the continents, paleoclimate indicators, truncated geologic features, and fossils. What Evidence Supports The Theory Of Continental Drift. Sedimentary rocks examination showed a change in climates, and the only possible explanations are continental drift or movement of the poles. What fossil evidence supports the belief that all of these continents were once joined and known as Pangea? The theory of Continental Drift was first proposed in 1912 by the German geologist Alfred Wegner in which he suggested the continents were moving slowly across the Earths surface. It is a fern that was discovered in Africa, South America, Antarctica, India, and Australia. Evidence supporting the continental drift theory. However, this theory of continental drift came to be accepted in the 90s after his death. Edubirdie. coal found in cold regions, glacial evidence found in warm regions. Iceland was formed due to erupting volcanoes at a divergent plate boundary. 6014 , CY. 2. Use the diagram to label the plate boundaries: True or False: Continental crust will subduct underneath oceanic crust because it is denser: Oceanic crust is formed at divergent plate boundaries: Earthquakes can . But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Which is an example of geological fit evidence? Laurasia contained the land masses in the northern hemisphere such as North America, Europe and Asia. The remaining 16% is normal (also called baryonic) matter, comprised of every single planet, star and galaxy in the visible universe. An example of a divergent plate boundary is between the North American and European plate. The fossils of these organisms are found on lands that are now far apart. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Fossil Correlation. 3. Which of the following explains how the map shows evidence for the existence of Pangaea? According to Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift, Pangaea, a Mega Ocean surrounding a supercontinent that . But about 200 million years ago, the land started to drift apart and broke into two pieces. What evidence supports the idea that all the continents were once joined together? What evidence supports the theory of ocean floor? The article Flight of the Kiwi will explain how large flightless birds overcame the water barriers and dispersed around the world. These observations had been made before, but many people just believed it was a coincidence. 6 How did Alfred Wegener come up with the idea of continental drift? Alfred Wegener proposed that the continents were once united into a single supercontinent named Pangaea, meaning all earth in ancient Greek. 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. However, would you believe if someone told you that these broken land masses were once connected to each other as one huge supercontinent? What evidence did Alfred Wegener use for his hypothesis? Alfred Wegener created the idea of continental drift and wrote The Origin of Continents and Oceans to support his idea. Lystrosaurus, on the other hand, was located in Africa, India, and Antarctica. Another piece of evidence is that fossils of plants, animals and invertebrates have been found on separate continents. What evidence supports the idea that all the continents were once joined together? When he brought these continents together, the glacier grooves perfectly matched up. We will write an essay sample crafted to your needs. 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 global inspection reveals an imbalance of areas of lands and sea and almost infinite variation of shapes which illustrates the continental and oceanic areas. How does coal in Greenland support the idea of continental drift? Fossil evidence for Pangaea includes the presence of similar and identical species on continents that are now great distances apart. 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. What observations about landforms best supports the theory of plate tectonics? How did Alfred Wegener come up with the idea of continental drift? What evidence supports the theory of ocean floor? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The Theory of Continental Drift was proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. By the late 1960s, several American investigators, among them Jack E. Oliver and Bryan L. Isacks, had integrated this notion of seafloor spreading with that of drifting continents and formulated the basis of plate tectonic theory. Continental Drift: The movement of continents across the ocean bed is known as continental drift. 2. Reptile Fossils- dinosaurs couldnt have swam across a vast ocean. Continents fit like a puzzle, climate clues, fossil clues, and rock layers or formations. The continents were once joined in a super-continent and have moved over time. Where the plates collide they form fold mountains e.g. Do now: Draw a convection current and explain why this happens? Today, the theory of continental drift has been replaced by the science of plate tectonics. Continental Drift- This is a theory of the Earth proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. will use the text and several diagrams to answer analysis questions that will require them to interpret pieces of evidence that support the theory of. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. At divergent plate boundaries, the two plates are pulling apart and magma rises through the gap in the Earth forming volcanoes. What evidence exists to support the existence of Pangea quizlet? Glossopteris - plant remains found in South America, Australia, Asia and Africa. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. One of the clues he used was the glacier. 3. Which is evidence supporting the theory of continental drift? Continental drift has impacted the universe in many ways. The four pieces of evidence for the continental drift include continents fitting together like a puzzle scattering ancient fossils rocks mountain ranges and the old climatic zones locations. For millions of years, all the land of Earth was joined together in a supercontinent, which is known as Pangaea. What are 4 pieces of evidence that support the theory of continental drift?