Continental Drift Theory

Continental Drift Hypothesis

What hypothesis was the Plate Tectonics Theory born from

Alfred Lothar Wegener

• A German climatologists and arctic explorer

• Hypothesized that the continents were once connected

Origins of the Continents and Oceans

• Alfred Wegener’s book

• Published in 1915

Pangea

“All Earth” or “All Land”

Panthalassa

A single, large ocean

Permian

225 million years ago

Triassic

200 million years ago

Jurassic

135 million years ago

Cretaceous

65 million years ago

Himalayan Mountains

Began to form when India collided with Eurasia

Geological Fit Evidence

• The continental jigsaw puzzle

• Matching of large-scale geological features on different continents

Fossil Evidences

Animal Fossils

• Mesosaurus

• Cynognathus

• Lystrosaurus
  

Plant Fossils

• Glossopteris

Fossils

Preserved remains or traces of remains of plants and animals

Mesosaurus

• Coastal animal

• Propelled itself through the water with its long hind legs and limber tail

• Found in South Africa and Eastern South America

• Early Permian Period (286-258 million yrs ago)

Cynognathus

• Mammal-like reptile

• As large as the modern wolf

• Triassic period (250-240 million yrs ago)

• Found in South America and South Africa

Lystrosaurus

• “Shovel reptile”

• A herbivore with stout built like a pig

• Found in Antarctica, South Africa, and India

Glossopteris

• Found in Australia, Antarctica, India, South Africa, and South America

• Seed known to be large and bulky

Evidence From Rocks

• Appalachian Mountains = North America & Scottish Highlands

• Mountain Ranges = Brazil & Ghana

• Rock Strata of the Karroo system = South Africa matched with Santa Catarina system = Brazil

Glaciers

Carve rocks and leave marks as they move

Coal Deposits

• From dead plants

• Found in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia

1. Geological “Fit” Evidence

2. Fossil Evidences

3. Rock Evidences

4. Climate Evidences

What are the Evidences of the Continental Drift Theory