Alfred Wegener - markfetch.com · Alfred Wegener If you look at a map of EarthIf you look at a map of Earth’ ’’’s surface, you will notice that the s surface, ... Pangaea

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Mr. Fetch’s Earth Science Classroom

Alfred Wegener

If you look at a map of EarthIf you look at a map of EarthIf you look at a map of EarthIf you look at a map of Earth’’’’s surface, you will notice that the s surface, you will notice that the s surface, you will notice that the s surface, you will notice that the

edges of some of the edges of some of the edges of some of the edges of some of the continents look like they fit togethercontinents look like they fit togethercontinents look like they fit togethercontinents look like they fit together....


Alfred Wegener

A German meteorologist, A German meteorologist, A German meteorologist, A German meteorologist, Alfred WegnerAlfred WegnerAlfred WegnerAlfred Wegner, proposed that the , proposed that the , proposed that the , proposed that the

continents were continents were continents were continents were once together, but drifted apartonce together, but drifted apartonce together, but drifted apartonce together, but drifted apart over time. over time. over time. over time.

His idea was His idea was His idea was His idea was

called the called the called the called the

Continental Continental Continental Continental

Drift TheoryDrift TheoryDrift TheoryDrift Theory....

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Alfred Wegener


Alfred Wegener

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Pangaea

Alfred Wegner said that all of the continents were once Alfred Wegner said that all of the continents were once Alfred Wegner said that all of the continents were once Alfred Wegner said that all of the continents were once

together as one land mass, which he named together as one land mass, which he named together as one land mass, which he named together as one land mass, which he named PangaeaPangaeaPangaeaPangaea, which , which , which , which

means means means means ““““all land.all land.all land.all land.””””

This land mass This land mass This land mass This land mass

broke apartbroke apartbroke apartbroke apart into into into into

separate separate separate separate

continents continents continents continents

about 200 about 200 about 200 about 200

million years million years million years million years

agoagoagoago....


Pangaea

There was There was There was There was no Atlantic Oceanno Atlantic Oceanno Atlantic Oceanno Atlantic Ocean at this point.at this point.at this point.at this point.

Pangaea was surrounded by a world ocean called Pangaea was surrounded by a world ocean called Pangaea was surrounded by a world ocean called Pangaea was surrounded by a world ocean called PanthalassaPanthalassaPanthalassaPanthalassa

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Pangaea Over Time…


Pangaea Proof

WegenerWegenerWegenerWegener’’’’s idea of continental drift was s idea of continental drift was s idea of continental drift was s idea of continental drift was controversialcontroversialcontroversialcontroversial....

People People People People wanted proofwanted proofwanted proofwanted proof that this has and is occurring.that this has and is occurring.that this has and is occurring.that this has and is occurring.

To prove his idea, To prove his idea, To prove his idea, To prove his idea,

Wegener found 4 Wegener found 4 Wegener found 4 Wegener found 4

major major major major pieces of pieces of pieces of pieces of

evidenceevidenceevidenceevidence::::

1.1.1.1. ShapeShapeShapeShape

2.2.2.2. FossilsFossilsFossilsFossils

3.3.3.3. ClimatesClimatesClimatesClimates

4.4.4.4. RocksRocksRocksRocks

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Proof: Fossil clues

Fossils of the same speciesFossils of the same speciesFossils of the same speciesFossils of the same species were found were found were found were found on different continentson different continentson different continentson different continents. . . .

Example 1: Example 1: Example 1: Example 1: MESOSAURUSMESOSAURUSMESOSAURUSMESOSAURUS

-ReptileReptileReptileReptile that lived on that lived on that lived on that lived on landlandlandland and in and in and in and in fresh waterfresh waterfresh waterfresh water....

-Fossils of it Fossils of it Fossils of it Fossils of it found on Africa and South Americafound on Africa and South Americafound on Africa and South Americafound on Africa and South America....

-How is that possible?How is that possible?How is that possible?How is that possible?


Proof: Fossil clues

ANSWER:ANSWER:ANSWER:ANSWER:

The continents The continents The continents The continents were once close togetherwere once close togetherwere once close togetherwere once close together so the reptile could so the reptile could so the reptile could so the reptile could

move freely from one land mass to the next.move freely from one land mass to the next.move freely from one land mass to the next.move freely from one land mass to the next.

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Proof: Fossil clues

"You'd better make a decision soon. The "You'd better make a decision soon. The "You'd better make a decision soon. The "You'd better make a decision soon. The

continents are starting to drift apart."continents are starting to drift apart."continents are starting to drift apart."continents are starting to drift apart."


Proof: Fossil clues

Example 2: Example 2: Example 2: Example 2: GLOSSOPTERIS GLOSSOPTERIS GLOSSOPTERIS GLOSSOPTERIS

-Same plantSame plantSame plantSame plant found on Africa, India, South America, & Antarctica.found on Africa, India, South America, & Antarctica.found on Africa, India, South America, & Antarctica.found on Africa, India, South America, & Antarctica.

-How is this possible ???How is this possible ???How is this possible ???How is this possible ???

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Proof: Fossil clues


The continents The continents The continents The continents were once close togetherwere once close togetherwere once close togetherwere once close together so the plant seeds were so the plant seeds were so the plant seeds were so the plant seeds were

easily able to spread. It is not possible for the seeds of thateasily able to spread. It is not possible for the seeds of thateasily able to spread. It is not possible for the seeds of thateasily able to spread. It is not possible for the seeds of that plant plant plant plant

to spread across the entire globe.to spread across the entire globe.to spread across the entire globe.to spread across the entire globe.


Proof: Climatic clues

Wegner noticed evidence of Wegner noticed evidence of Wegner noticed evidence of Wegner noticed evidence of major climate changesmajor climate changesmajor climate changesmajor climate changes....

Example 1: Example 1: Example 1: Example 1: TROPICAL PLANTS IN ARCTIC AREASTROPICAL PLANTS IN ARCTIC AREASTROPICAL PLANTS IN ARCTIC AREASTROPICAL PLANTS IN ARCTIC AREAS

-Warm weather plant fossils were found in the Arctic.Warm weather plant fossils were found in the Arctic.Warm weather plant fossils were found in the Arctic.Warm weather plant fossils were found in the Arctic.

-How is this possible?How is this possible?How is this possible?How is this possible?

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Proof: Fossil clues


Areas of land that were Areas of land that were Areas of land that were Areas of land that were once in the tropicsonce in the tropicsonce in the tropicsonce in the tropics, , , , drifted apartdrifted apartdrifted apartdrifted apart and and and and

moved moved moved moved toward the arctictoward the arctictoward the arctictoward the arctic. . . .


Proof: Climatic clues

Example 2: Example 2: Example 2: Example 2: EVIDENCE OF GLACIERS IN THE TROPICSEVIDENCE OF GLACIERS IN THE TROPICSEVIDENCE OF GLACIERS IN THE TROPICSEVIDENCE OF GLACIERS IN THE TROPICS

-When a When a When a When a glacierglacierglacierglacier (chunk of ice) moves, it (chunk of ice) moves, it (chunk of ice) moves, it (chunk of ice) moves, it scratches the landscratches the landscratches the landscratches the land....

-Glacier Glacier Glacier Glacier scratches can be seen in warm, tropical areasscratches can be seen in warm, tropical areasscratches can be seen in warm, tropical areasscratches can be seen in warm, tropical areas....

-Glacier evidence is found in areas where there are no glaciers.Glacier evidence is found in areas where there are no glaciers.Glacier evidence is found in areas where there are no glaciers.Glacier evidence is found in areas where there are no glaciers.


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Proof: Fossil clues


Areas of land that were Areas of land that were Areas of land that were Areas of land that were once in the arcticonce in the arcticonce in the arcticonce in the arctic, , , , drifted apartdrifted apartdrifted apartdrifted apart and and and and

moved moved moved moved toward the tropicstoward the tropicstoward the tropicstoward the tropics. . . .


Proof: Rock clues

Rock and Rock and Rock and Rock and rock structuresrock structuresrock structuresrock structures on different continents are the on different continents are the on different continents are the on different continents are the samesamesamesame

where the land where the land where the land where the land was once joinedwas once joinedwas once joinedwas once joined. . . .

Example 1: Example 1: Example 1: Example 1: NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPENORTH AMERICA AND EUROPENORTH AMERICA AND EUROPENORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE

-Rock structures matchRock structures matchRock structures matchRock structures match where the where the where the where the AppalachianAppalachianAppalachianAppalachian Mountains Mountains Mountains Mountains

in the Eastern United States once in the Eastern United States once in the Eastern United States once in the Eastern United States once were joined againstwere joined againstwere joined againstwere joined against the the the the

side of side of side of side of EuropeEuropeEuropeEurope....


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Continental Drift Review


Proof: Rock clues


The continents once were The continents once were The continents once were The continents once were together when the mountains formedtogether when the mountains formedtogether when the mountains formedtogether when the mountains formed

and and and and then they separated then they separated then they separated then they separated –––– breaking the chainbreaking the chainbreaking the chainbreaking the chain as North America as North America as North America as North America

and Europe move away from each other.and Europe move away from each other.and Europe move away from each other.and Europe move away from each other.

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Proof was not enough…

Despite these 4 major pieces of evidence, geologists of Despite these 4 major pieces of evidence, geologists of Despite these 4 major pieces of evidence, geologists of Despite these 4 major pieces of evidence, geologists of

Wegener's time Wegener's time Wegener's time Wegener's time still did not believe his ideastill did not believe his ideastill did not believe his ideastill did not believe his idea....

The problem was that while The problem was that while The problem was that while The problem was that while

Alfred was able to show Alfred was able to show Alfred was able to show Alfred was able to show

evidence that it could have evidence that it could have evidence that it could have evidence that it could have

happened, happened, happened, happened, he was not able he was not able he was not able he was not able

to explain how or why the to explain how or why the to explain how or why the to explain how or why the

continents moved.continents moved.continents moved.continents moved.

He needed to tell people He needed to tell people He needed to tell people He needed to tell people

what the what the what the what the mechanismmechanismmechanismmechanism was was was was

that was causing the that was causing the that was causing the that was causing the ““““sosososo----

calledcalledcalledcalled”””” continental drift.continental drift.continental drift.continental drift.

Documents

Alfred Wegener - markfetch.com · Alfred Wegener If you look at a map of EarthIf you look at a map of Earth’ ’’’s surface, you will notice that the s surface, ... Pangaea