It is much hotter than the lithosphere. Africa has some of the greatest history, and physical geography. Sea floor spreading indicates that since the continents presently move apart, previous continental drift was possible and probable as well. First samples of the deep ocean floor show that basaltic oceanic crust and overlying sediment become progressively younger as the mid-ocean ridge is approached and the sediment cover is thinner near the ridge. A graphic of Gondwana. 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. So, technically, the creature would not have traveled through the ocean to get to the next continent. 2023 EduBirdie.com. What types of fossils were used as evidence for continental drift? Contact Us . This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it. Alfred Wegener proposed the Continental Drift Theory in 1912. Which example is another piece of evidence? 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. 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. The theory of continental drift was supported by the theory of plate tectonics, which has been explained elaborately in Section 6. The Earth is broken into lithospheric plates that move due to convection currents. Reptile Fossils- dinosaurs couldnt have swam across a vast ocean. A graphic of Gondwana. Scientists agree that continents rest on rocks called tectonic plates, which shift and move. Wegener found coal in Greenland and claimed that this supported his ideas about continental drift. Continents fit like Puzzle Pieces. Wegener, in his expedition, discovered glacier grooves in all the continents. Theory of Plate Tectonics was established by Alfred Wegener. . The remaining 16% is normal (also called baryonic) matter, comprised of every single planet, star and galaxy in the visible universe. This perfect aligning of mountain ranges indicated that the continents were once together. This perfect aligning of mountain ranges indicated that the continents were once together. 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. Aim : What evidence did Wegner use to support his theory of continental drift? 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. 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. This is called Ridge Push. Fossils are the stongest evidences of plate tectonics. The Wallace Line. It also extends to a depth of 2900km. Evidence of glaciers in unexpected places. As lava cools on Earths surface it forms a variety of igneous rocks. Rocks of Same Age Across the Oceans: radiometric dating methods have correlated the rock formation in different continents. We are here 24/7 to write your paper in as fast as 3 hours. His ideas attracted much attention in the 1920s and generated much controversy. This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. . Which of the following was not a line of evidence used to support the hypothesis of continental drift? 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. They based their idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence: fit of the continents paleoclimate indicators truncated geologic features and fossils. Fossil records are strong evidence that the continents do drift. What types of evidence best supports the theory of plate tectonics? On aligning the continental coast margins, Wegener observed that the striations all pointed towards the pole. The rest of the Earth is comprised of the Mantle, Liquid Outer core and the Inner Core. He explained how the continents moved Question 9 30 seconds Q. Pangaea has not been the only supercontinent on Earth. It has affected the global climate, the worlds geographical positions and the evolution of animals. Should you have any questions regarding our We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. How did the alliance system lead to World War 1? What are the 5 evidences of continental drift? Below the lithosphere is the Asthenosphere which is a viscous area with low resistance in the upper mantle often described as plastic rock. The "Wallace Line". As the plates pulled apart from each other millions of years ago it caused earthquakes which led to magma rising from the mantle and erupting through the crust forming the Mid Atlantic Ridge as it solidified, this is called sea floor spreading as it is an example of two oceanic plates pulling away from each other. What key evidence supports the hypothesis of continental drift? 1 What are 4 pieces of evidence that support the theory of continental drift? For example, the continents of South America and Africa fit perfectly when brought together. 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. Continental drift theory was given by Alfred Wegener in 1915. Now, looking at the current map after drifting of the continents, Cygnognathus is situated in Africa and South America. Which fossil clues support the continental drift hypothesis? How does this document help us answer the question: 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. Which of the following explains how the map shows evidence for the existence of Pangaea? 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. The fact that the seeds would have been unable to be blown or floated to these continents proves that these continents were once together. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The continents were once joined in a super-continent and have moved over time. Was the United States justified in going to war with Mexico? On the other hand, tectonic movement destroys crust during interaction of the plates. Over the course of millions of year ago, this gradual movement caused the once combined supercontinent to separate into 7 continents you witness in the present day. 7 Which is an example of geological fit evidence? As they collide, the pacific plate is subducted under the continental Eurasian plate. The possibility that they might reflect true wander of the poles was discarded, because it implies separate wanderings of many magnetic poles over the same period. 2. The theory provided our understanding on the landmasses that inhabit this world as well as the ocean basins. Evidence that supports the theory The Matching of Continents (Jig-Saw-Fit): The shorelines of Africa and South America facing each other match remarkably. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. There are various examples of fossils found on separate continents and in no other regions. 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. Some 50 years later, Antonio Snider-Pellegrini, a French scientist, argued that the presence of identical fossil plants in both North American and European coal deposits could be explained if the two continents had formerly been connected, a relationship otherwise difficult to account for. Studies by Runcorn of the remanent magnetism in suitable rocks of different ages from Europe produced a polar wandering curve indicating that the magnetic poles were in different places at different times. Rock Correlation. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Continental drift has impacted the universe in many ways. Islands along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with rocks dating back from 542 million to 2500 million years ago. 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. 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. He provided evidence that mountain ranges occurring on opposite continents matched up pretty well when brought together. Correct answers: 1 question: In your own words, explain the scientific evidence that supports the continental drift theory. As magma rises it forces the crust to rise at the ridge. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Corrections? At convergent plates, oceanic and continental plates collide. However, he supported his theory by explaining the earth's geologic history. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. As molten rock rises from the Earth, it forms new crust between the plates. He provided evidence that mountain ranges occurring on opposite continents matched up pretty well when brought together. 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. A. What did Alfred Wegener's theory of continental . How does coal in Greenland support the idea of continental drift? 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. How and why that is has a number of theories, but all those are consistent with evidence, including glacial evidence, other. The main piece of evidence supporting continental drift was the fit of the continents along their edges. He discovered glacier groves in continents that were not cold enough to support snow formation in the present day. Embryology, similarity, and vestigial structures. short answer pls, 1. Similar fossils were found on different continents. 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. Continental drift describes one of the earliest ways geologists thought continents moved over time. Geological fit evidence is the matching of large-scale geological features on different continents. Answer 5: Fossils are formed when living organisms (plants or animals) die and become buried in dirt, sand or mud. How to Market Your Business with Webinars? He called his hypothesis continental drift. The Fossil Record. . 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. The main concepts that help round Abstract The study of geomorphology is an academic discipline related in explaining the earths surface and to understand the processes which create and modifies landforms. It seems likely, though it is still unproven, that this breakup of a single landmass and the drifting of its fragments is merely the latest in a series of similar occurrences throughout geologic time. 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. How is plate tectonics supported by the apparent fit of the continental coastline? Indications of widespread glaciation from 380 to 250 million years ago are evident in Antarctica, southern South America, southern Africa, India, and Australia. unique remains in distant places. The following piece of evidence represents matching geologic provinces in Africa and South America. What evidence supports that the glaciers on the southern continents were once part of a single massive ice sheet? The Theory of Continental Drift was proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. 3. 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. Wegener supported his theory by demonstrating the biological and geological similarities between continents. Post navigation PreviousPrevious post:Is Styrofoam bad for the environment? The central dogma of biology. The northern continent consists of Europe, North America, and Asia. 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. 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. It suggested that those land areas had in the past been connected. Holmes' theories have continued to be . Wegener used fossil evidence to support his continental drift hypothesis. Continents fit like a puzzle, climate clues, fossil clues, and rock layers or formations. How do you fix wet condensation on walls? What were some of the main problems in cities around the turn of the 20th century? One of the strongest pieces of evidence is Continental break up/fit, this is the idea that the continents were once joined together. During the early 1960s, the American geophysicist Harry H. Hess proposed that new oceanic crust is continually generated by igneous activity at the crests of oceanic ridgessubmarine mountains that follow a sinuous course of about 65,000 km (40,000 miles) along the bottom of the major ocean basins. This means it does not absorb, emit or reflect visible light, gamma rays, ultra-violet rays etc. Evidence from fossils, glaciers, and complementary coastlines helps reveal how the plates once fit together. The discovery of fossils on different continents indicated that the continents were once together before they drifted away. What are the four pieces of evidence for Pangaea? 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. 1. Alfred Wegener proposed that the continents were once united into a single supercontinent named Pangaea, meaning all earth in ancient Greek. 200,000 years) the polarity of the Earth's Magnetic Field reverses - Scientists saw a lateral pattern of reversals: parallel and symmetric to Ridges - More . Mesosaurus are fossils originating from aquatic freshwater reptiles. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". (askinglot.com)Collisional Plate boundaries diagram and explanation YouTubeEarthguide: Online Classroom Definition: Pangaea (ucsd.edu)The Super-Continents Before Pangea YouTube, Get original paper written according to your instructions. What two pieces of evidence did Wegener discover that supported the idea of Pangaea quizlet? 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. The first truly detailed and comprehensive theory of continental drift was proposed in 1912 by Alfred Wegener, a German meteorologist. Continental drift also comes along with grave effects such as Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Tsunamis. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. As the crust rises, gravity forces it away from the margin, driving the crust. Impact craters have been found both on dry land and on the ocean floor. none of the above. What is thought to influence the overproduction and pruning of synapses in the brain quizlet? What Is N For The Following Equation In Relating Kc To Kp? When this occurs, the sea floor grows wider, pushing the two continents apart. 2. It was hard for Wegner to back his theory as he was unable to explain how the continents moved. 2023 EduBirdie.com. Wegener's accumulated evidence could be most logically explained by continental drift. 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 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. Molten rock material from Earths mantle rises upward to the crests, cools, and is later pushed aside by new intrusions. Effects such as Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and physical geography Ridge with dating! 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By new intrusions floor spreading indicates that since the continents moved Question 9 seconds! Wegener observed that the continents moved used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes evidence... Complementary coastlines helps reveal how the continents were once together before they away. Mountain ranges occurring on opposite continents matched up pretty well when brought together gamma rays what evidence supports the theory of continental drift ultra-violet etc... Pushing the two continents apart comprehensive theory of continental drift rocks dating back from 542 million 2500! Continents proves that these continents were once together used as evidence for?... Rises from the Earth, it forms new crust between the plates once fit together may some... Or animals ) die and become buried in dirt, sand or mud including glacial evidence including.