The Theory of Continental Drift

Continental Drift Theory

• Proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912• 250 million years ago, all of the continents

were combined into one super-continent called “Pangaea”

• The continents gradually drifted apart to where they are today

Evidence to Support the Theory

“Puzzle Pieces”

• Continents look like they could be part of a giant jigsaw puzzle

Distribution of Fossils

• Plant and animal fossils found on the coastlines of different continents

Sequence of Rocks

• Same rock patterns found in South America, India, Africa, Antarctica and Australia

Ancient Climates• Tropical plant

remains (coal deposits) found in Antarctica

• Glaciation in Africa, South America, India, and Australia during the same time

Problems With The Theory

• No mechanism for movement of continents

• Wind and currents could possibly move fossils

• Theory was not accepted by scientists

Please look back through the notes and list the 4 main evidences of Continental Drift.

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