Restless Continents 9/30/15

7-2a pgs. 173-174

IN: What do you think the What do you think the Earth and the continents Earth and the continents looked like 250 million looked like 250 million years ago?years ago?

Alfred Wegener’s TheoryAlfred Wegener’s TheoryContinental driftContinental drift - - is the theory is the theory

that continents can drift apart from that continents can drift apart from one another and have done so in one another and have done so in the past.the past.

PangaeaPangaea – the name Alfred – the name Alfred Wegener gave to the Wegener gave to the supercontinent which he believed supercontinent which he believed existed about 245 million years ago.existed about 245 million years ago.

• Pangaea is Greek for “all Earth.”

• He presented his Continental Drift hypothesis on January 6, 1912.

What is Wegener’s Evidence?What is Wegener’s Evidence?

1. The shapes of some coastlines 1. The shapes of some coastlines seem to fit together.seem to fit together.

What is Wegener’s Evidence?What is Wegener’s Evidence?

2. Fossils of the same plant and 2. Fossils of the same plant and animal species are found on both animal species are found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

What is Wegener’s Evidence?What is Wegener’s Evidence?3. Similar types of rock and 3. Similar types of rock and evidence of the same ancient evidence of the same ancient climatic conditions were found on climatic conditions were found on several continents.several continents.

What is Wegener’s Evidence?What is Wegener’s Evidence?

4. Split mountain ranges.4. Split mountain ranges.

OUT: Do you believe Alfred Wegener’s theory? Why or why not?