Theory of Continental Drift Brighten Academy Middle School大陆漂移理论照亮书院中学.pptVIP

Theory of Continental Drift Presented by Mr. D’Angelone Who proposed the Theory of Continental Drift? Alfred Wegener German scientist 1880-1930 Proposed the Theory of Continental Drift Provided early evidence What is Continental Drift? Theory of Continental Drift Wegener proposed that all the continents had once been joined together in a single landmass and have since drifted apart. Pangaea was the name given to the super continent. Evidence for Continental Drift Early Evidence Puzzle-like fit of the continents Fossil clues Climate clues Glaciers Glacial deposits Rock clues Puzzle-like fit of the Continents The edges of some continents look as if they would fit together like a puzzle. Fossil Clues: Mesosaurus A freshwater swimming reptile Fossils found in South America and Africa. Wegener thought that this reptile lived on both continents when the continents were connected. Fossil Clues: Glossopteris Fossil Fern Found in Africa, Australia, India, South America and Antarctica. Wegener believed that all these areas were connected. Climate Clues Fossils of warm weather plants were found on islands in the Arctic Ocean. Wegener believed that these islands drifted from tropical regions. Climate Clues: Glacial Deposits Glacial deposits and grooved bedrock found in southern areas of South America, Africa, India, and Australia. Indicates that these continents were once covered with glaciers. Wegener believed that these continents were covered with ice near Earth’s South Pole at one time. Rock Clues Similar rock structures are found on different continents. Mountains found in the eastern U.S. are similar to those found in Greenland and western Europe. The clues found in rocks, support the idea that continents were connected when these rock structures formed. Scientists Reject Wegener’s Theory Wegener provided more than evidence for his theory. He attempted to explain how drift took place. Unfortunately, Wegener could not provide a satisfactory explana