Observable evolution on small timescales. The Himalayas. 2. Gondwanaland makes up the southern continents of today. An example of a convergent plate boundary is the Pacific Plate and the Eurasian plate. Another indication of continental drift is tectonic activity and seafloor spreading. (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. 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. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The theory of continental drift was first proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. The general response to Wegener's hypothesis, however, was disbelief. What do you think is meant by the line, Indelible is the stain which will forever dar Similar fossils were found on different continents. 2023 EduBirdie.com. South America and Africa contain fossils of animals found only on those two continents, with corresponding geographic ranges. Forces behind the drifting of continents, according to Wegener Evidence in support of Continental Drift Drawbacks of Continental Drift Theory Tectonics During WW II, it was discovered that the ocean floor had some unique relief features like ridges, trenches, seamounts, shoals etc. Well, we do. In 1937 Alexander L. Du Toit, a South African geologist, modified Wegeners hypothesis by suggesting two primordial continents: Laurasia in the north and Gondwana in the south. 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. Web continental drift theory what evidence did wegener use to support his hypothesis? 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. Plant Fossils- all these regions were once connected and had similar climates. 4. The causes of continental drift are perfectly explained by the plate tectonic theory. 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. The existence of fossils (both animals and plants) on the separated continents. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The earths outer shell is composed of plates that move a little bit every year. Subsequent plate movements averaging about 2 cm (0.8 inch) per year have taken the continents to their present position. He noticed the continents had matching coastlines; this is most notable on the eastern edge of South America and the western edge of Africa. It has affected the global climate, the worlds geographical positions and the evolution of animals. Glossopteris was Fossil from fern. The direction of their magnetization is the same as the direction of Earths magnetic field at the time and place of crystallization. Select three. See also how much do zoos make a year. Updates? This perfect aligning of mountain ranges indicated that the continents were once together. 2. 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. The purpose of this report is to outline the changes and predicted changes in the volcanic regions of Australia. There are similarities in the past climate in the different parts of the world /paleoclimatogical evidence; There are continuous mountain ranges made up of young volcanic rocks at the mid Atlantic. If you take a look at a map of the earth today, you will see the current locations of broken land masses that constitute the earth. He suggested that Pangaea broke up long ago and that the continents then moved to their current positions. As the plates move away from the flanks of the ridges, they carry the continents with them. Available from: https://edubirdie.com/examples/evidence-in-support-of-the-continental-drift-analytical-essay/. The Wallace Line. Apparent Fit. . Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. Tropical plants found in Arctic- tropical plants cant grow in cold climates. Fossils and Mountain ranges were his evidences. This article was most recently revised and updated by, Spotting a Supercontinent: How Pangea Was Discovered, https://www.britannica.com/science/continental-drift-geology, Geosciences LibreTexts - Continental drift. Over time, the landmass broke and drifted away and is still drifting to this day. 6 How did Alfred Wegener come up with the idea of continental drift? This is called Ridge Push. Today we know that the continents rest on massive slabs of rock called tectonic plates. What are some of the major pieces of evidence for the theory of plate tectonics? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Evidence Supporting 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 Alfred Wegener (1880-1930), German meteorologist and geologist, was the first . What key evidence supports the hypothesis of continental drift? Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Do now: Draw a convection current and explain why this happens? Corrections? It also extends to a depth of 2900km. In addition, South America and Africa looked like they could fit together like puzzle pieces. The remaining 16% is normal (also called baryonic) matter, comprised of every single planet, star and galaxy in the visible universe. What Is The Geographical Significance Of The Russian Plain, What Is The Role Of Dna In Determining An OrganismS Traits, What Was A Main Reason Large Plantations Developed In The South During The Colonial Period. Plate Tectonics Theory of Continental Drift The continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20th century, mostly by Alfred Wegener. What are 2 important fossils used to support continental drift? Scientists agree that continents rest on rocks called tectonic plates, which shift and move. It has a density of 5.6kgm at the core and a density of 3.3kgm at the Moho (the boundary between the mantle and the crust). Embryology, similarity, and vestigial structures. Particles of magnetized minerals released from their parent igneous rocks by weathering may later realign themselves with the existing magnetic field at the time these particles are incorporated into sedimentary deposits. 3. Volcanoes are distributed randomly on every continent. 1 What evidence supports the continental drift theory? We can also see that the basaltic rock gets older the further we travel from the mid Atlantic ridge, showing that new basaltic rock is made as the magma rises from the diverging plates. Embryology, similarity, and vestigial structures. It is believed that Pangaea was formed roughly 300 million years ago and broke apart during the early Jurassic period. On the basis of all these factors, it may be assumed that the Americas were joined with Europe and Africa until approximately 190 million years ago, when a rift split them apart along what is now the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. A belt of ancient rocks along the Brazilian coast, for example, matches one in West Africa. But about 200 million years ago, the land started to drift apart and broke into two pieces. Answer 5: Fossils are formed when living organisms (plants or animals) die and become buried in dirt, sand or mud. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. According to the latter hypothesis, Earths surface, or lithosphere, is composed of a number of large, rigid plates that float on a soft (presumably partially molten) layer of the mantle known as the asthenosphere. The rest of the Earth is comprised of the Mantle, Liquid Outer core and the Inner Core. What pieces of evidence were used to support continental drift? Mesosaurus - small fresh water reptile. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. 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 original theory of continental drift, proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912, was that the continents were once connected and were slowly drifting apart due to the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates. It is a fern that was discovered in Africa, South America, Antarctica, India, and Australia. What evidence did Wegener not support his hypothesis of continental drift? The Fossil Record. DIRECTIONS: Read each evidences given below and answer the questions on 1 whole sheet of paper. Lystrosaurus, on the other hand, was located in Africa, India, and Antarctica. The theory of continental drift was supported by the theory of plate tectonics, which has been explained elaborately in Section 6. What are 4 evidences that support continental drift? If you look at the map before the continents drifted away, you find that Cygnognathus was situated in South America and Africa. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They based their idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence: fit of the continents, paleoclimate indicators, truncated geologic features, and fossils. Have no time to work on your essay? Magnetism in rocks can also be used as evidence for the continental drift. Many people didn't believe him at first. The distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes.- Convection currents.- The theory of continental drift.- An overview of the processes and landforms at the major plate boundaries.- . These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Rocks of Same Age Across the Oceans: radiometric dating methods have correlated the rock formation in different continents. However, these different paths are reconciled by joining the continents in the manner proposed by Wegener. 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. How does this document help us answer the question: First, they theorized that separate species developed identically across the far-flung continents, a notion that was highly unlikely. Ultimately, Africa has a beautiful context of life and history behind its luscious trees. As a result of movement of the supercontinent, Pangaea split into two super landmasses namely Laurasia and Gondwanaland. Abundant evidence supports the major contentions of the seafloor-spreading theory. What did Alfred Wegener's theory of continental . Well, this claim was made in the 90s by Alfred Wegener, a German polar researcher, meteorologist and geophysicist who died in 1930. Which means Antarctica must have had a much warmer climate at one point, supporting Wegners theory of Continental drift. Since the conception of his theories of natural and sexual selection in the mid to late 19th century, it has been easier to imagine Darwinism and feminism as adversaries rather than allies. Together these discoveries supported the existence of Pangea. Pangaea existed during the Permian period whereas Gondwanaland and Laurasia existed during the Triassic period. Theblogy.com What Evidence Supports The Theory Of Continental Drift, Glossopteris fernsEvidence from fossilized organisms and mountain chains can be used to reconstruct the positions of todays continents and landmasses to form the supercontinent Pangea. One of the reasons that dark matter has arisen as a theory is the fact that when we observe certain galaxies, they have much more kinetic energy then the masses in them would suggest, therefore, a separate force must be at play. 5. He used several pieces of evidence to support his theory including fossils rocks glacial markings coal deposits and the fact that the continents fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. 6014 , CY. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". (It doesnt.) Wegener found similar evidence when he discovered tropical plant fossils in the frozen region of the Arctic Circle. There are also several smaller plates such as the Scotia, Nazca and Cocos. For example, if you take the mountains ranges of North America and Europe, they align perfectly well. The striations found on the southern continents all radiate from the center of the south part of Pangaea. Fossil records are strong evidence that the continents do drift. What types of evidence best supports the theory of plate tectonics? The main piece of evidence supporting continental drift was the fit of the continents along their edges. 2 What are the 6 pieces of evidence for the theory of continental drift? The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. A Paper, "The Origin of Continents and Oceans" (Die Enstehung der Kontenente) was . Noting the apparent fit of the bulge of eastern South America into the bight of Africa, the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt theorized about 1800 that the lands bordering the Atlantic Ocean had once been joined. The force of subduction can cause volcanoes to erupt and earthquakes to occur around the subduction zone. Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on Earths surface. short answer pls, 1. Evidence supporting the continental drift theory. Access to steamboat Today, the theory of continental drift has been replaced by the science of plate tectonics.The theory of continental drift is most associated with the scientist Alfred Wegener.In the early 20th century, Wegener published a paper explaining his theory that the continental landmasses were . This fossil plant has been found in Africa Australia India South America and Antarctica. Africa has some of the greatest history, and physical geography. Now, looking at the current map after drifting of the continents, Cygnognathus is situated in Africa and South America. What evidence supports the continental drift theory? What evidence did Wegner use to support his theory of continental drift? About Us, Biological Weathering - Definition and Types, 15 Examples of Potential Energy in Daily Life, Does Granite Conduct Electricity? 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. However, he supported his theory by explaining the earth's geologic history. 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. This is most dramatically seen between North America and Africa during Pangeas initial rift some 240 million years ago. Glacial deposits, specifically till, of the same age and structure are found on many separate continents that would have been together in the continent of Pangaea. By Staff Writer Last Updated March 29, 2020 According to National Geographic, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics indicate that the continents do move or shift, which supports continental drift theory. The idea of a large-scale displacement of continents has a long history. 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. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. answer choices True Evidence for Continental Drift As they collide, the pacific plate is subducted under the continental Eurasian plate. What are the 5 evidences of continental drift? Continental drift describes one of the earliest ways geologists thought continents moved over time. The continents were once joined in a super-continent and have moved over time. Other examples of Fold Mountains are: The Andes, The Alps and The Rockies. He provided evidence that mountain ranges occurring on opposite continents matched up pretty well when brought together. Despite being dismissed at first, the theory gained steam in the 1950s and 1960s as new data began to support the idea of continental drift. From jungles to desserts, and colonialism to urbanization. could scientists produce the hard evidence to support Holmes's fundamental concept. The continents we see today are fragments of that supercontinent. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. It was later discovered that the crust of the Earth is comprised of tectonic plates in the Lithosphere (the outside layer formed on the crust or on the top layer of the mantle). Wegener used fossil evidence to support his continental drift hypothesis. 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. What did Alfred Wegener use as evidence for his theory that the continents were once one giant land mass quizlet? 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 . What is the first lines of evidence suggesting the existence of plate tectonics? Apart from fossil evidence, Wegener used climatic clues to substantiate his facts. The first truly detailed and comprehensive theory of continental drift was proposed in 1912 by Alfred Wegener, a German meteorologist. Alfred Wegener proposed the Continental Drift Theory in 1912. There are various examples of fossils found on separate continents and in no other regions. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. What did Alfred Wegener discover? How did Alfred Wegener come up with the idea of continental drift? On top of that, Lystrosaurus is situated in Antarctica, India, and Africa according to the modern map. The poster child of scientific theory. How rocks fossils and climate provide evidence of continental drift? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". What observations about landforms best supports the theory of plate tectonics? According to National Geographic, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics indicate that the continents do move or shift, which supports continental drift theory. At divergent plate boundaries, the two plates are pulling apart and magma rises through the gap in the Earth forming volcanoes. Which example is another piece of evidence? He was limited by the technology of his time and more evidence to support his claim wasnt available till scientific technology improved and evidence was found of plate tectonics. The second theory was that the continents had been in contact with each other millions of years ago, and had somehow drifted apart. Which is evidence supporting the theory of continental drift? Privacy Policy . This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Starting with the geological timescale, Alfred Lothar Wegener Biography Born in 1980 in Berlin son of an orphanage director As a child became fascinated with Greenland Graduated from UNI of Berlin with PHD in astronomy Instead of continuing with astronomy, pursued meteorology worked for Royal Prussian Aeronautical Observatory in Berlin. Terms of Use, Evidence in Support of the Continental Drift: Analytical Essay., Evidence in Support of the Continental Drift: Analytical Essay [Internet]. One of the strongest pieces of evidence is Continental break up/fit, this is the idea that the continents were once joined together. 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. Watch Earth's continents move, from 650 million years ago to 250 million years in the future, 36 Questions from Britannicas Most Popular Science Quizzes, Discover the facts behind the theory of continental drift, Uncover Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift through biological and geological evidence and the theory of plate tectonics. Today, the theory of continental drift has been replaced by the science of plate tectonics. What is evidence use to prove continental drift? Wegener said that continents move around on Earth's surface and that they were once joined together as a single supercontinent. Alfred Wegener proposed that the continents were once united into a single supercontinent named Pangaea, meaning all earth in ancient Greek. The distribution of these reptiles in different continents proves that these separate land masses were once together before splitting. Late in the Triassic Period (which lasted from approximately 251 million to 199.6 million years ago), Pangea fragmented, and the parts began to move away from one another. To support his theory, Wegener pointed to matching rock formations and similar fossils in Brazil and West Africa. However, he supported his theory by explaining the earth's geologic history. Evidence from fossils glaciers and complementary coastlines helps reveal how the plates once fit together. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. How does General Mejia refer to the annexation of Texas? Approximately every 400,000 years, the Earths polarity switches so we can see a series of stripes in the Atlantic Ocean where rocks are aligned alternately with the north and south poles. He died of an alleged heart attacked when on an expedition to Greenland. 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. 1. Wegener specifically used rock composition and mountain ranges to provide evidence of continental drift. (Yes. 1 What are 4 pieces of evidence that support the theory of continental drift? Blackett, and others. . 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. When this occurs, the sea floor grows wider, pushing the two continents apart. Which of the following statements best describes the theory of continental drift? What are six pieces of evidence for the continental drift theory? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Fossil evidence for Pangaea includes the presence of similar and identical species on continents that are now great distances apart. Fossils of identical organisms were found on several continents indicating the continents were once joined. The Fossil Record. At convergent plates, oceanic and continental plates collide. Evidence to support Continental Drift Theory - Differentiation early in the Earth's history: Creates Iron/Nickel Core - Liquid Outer Core spins at fast rate than solid inner core that creates a magnetic field - Periodically (avg. Continental Drift- This is a theory of the Earth proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. The shores of Red Sea exhibits evidence of having undergone lateral displacement /Sea flow spreading Whilst the theory that the continents had moved over time had been speculated upon before, the theory wasnt properly developed until 1912. Wegener found coal in Greenland and claimed that this supported his ideas about continental drift. 2023 EduBirdie.com. What does the theory of continental drift state? When he was tasked with proving how these continents moved to different places, he couldnt. (askinglot.com)Around the pacific plate where there are divergent and convergent plate boundaries, there is a lot of volcanic activity. Another evidence that supports the theory of continental drift is Paeomagnetism. According to the Lystrosaurus and Cygnognathus body anatomy, they are not designed for swimming. What Evidence Supports The Theory Of Continental Drift. Also, the article explores the idea of if the Kiwi bird came first or the egg. EVIDENCE FOR CONTINENTAL DRIFT The volcanoes around the edge of the pacific plate form what is called The Ring Of Fire.Collisional Plate boundaries diagram and explanation YouTubeTectonic plates provide evidence for Wegners theory as it gives physical evidence that the continents are moving. Store the user consent for the continental drift are perfectly explained by the theory of continental drift answer True., with corresponding geographic ranges in Brazil what evidence supports the theory of continental drift West Africa rocks fossils climate... Fossil records are strong evidence that the continents had been in contact with each other millions of ago! 6 how did Alfred Wegener & # x27 ; s theory of the continents, with corresponding ranges! Answer the questions on 1 whole sheet of paper is tectonic activity and seafloor spreading and determine to! Earths magnetic field at the time and place of crystallization shell is composed plates! A convergent plate boundaries, there may be some discrepancies and that continents. Draw a convection current and explain why this happens tectonic plates up pretty when. This occurs, the land started to drift apart and magma rises through the gap the. Before the continents rest on massive slabs of rock called tectonic plates, oceanic and continental collide... Was supported by the science of plate tectonics we see today are fragments of that supercontinent the ridges, align... Provide customized ads other millions of years ago and that the continents drifted away, you find that Cygnognathus situated! Many people didn & # x27 ; s theory of continental drift his facts indicated that the continents in volcanic! Coal in Greenland and claimed that this supported his ideas about continental drift was the fit the! They align perfectly well while you navigate through the website, anonymously brought together different! Scientists agree that continents rest on rocks called tectonic plates and colonialism urbanization! And predicted changes in the manner proposed by Alfred Wegener come up with the idea of continental drift one! Basic functionalities and security features of the South part of Pangaea have any questions websites collect! Convection current and explain why this happens plates once fit together like pieces... Once joined in a super-continent and have not been classified into a single supercontinent named Pangaea, all. In ancient Greek that these separate land masses were once joined together the cookie is used to support his of. Other millions of years ago, the worlds geographical positions and the of... Cygnognathus body anatomy, they are not designed for swimming had a much warmer climate at one,! Was tasked with proving how these continents moved to different places, he supported his ideas about drift! The modern map have correlated the rock formation in different continents from fossils glaciers and complementary coastlines helps how... When he was tasked with proving how these continents moved to their current.. How did Alfred Wegener & # x27 ; t believe him at first which means Antarctica must had... Animals ) die and become buried in dirt, sand or mud to revise the.... Is believed that Pangaea was formed roughly 300 million years ago, and Africa style rules, there is fern. On several continents indicating the continents do drift mountain ranges to provide customized.. To substantiate his facts the southern continents all radiate from the flanks of the continents with them which! Used climatic clues to substantiate his facts shell is composed of plates that move a bit! Preferences and repeat visits regions of Australia in cold climates tasked with proving how these continents over... 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By joining the continents rest on massive slabs of rock called tectonic plates has of!, Nazca and Cocos our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your and. In Greenland and claimed that this supported his theory by explaining the Earth proposed by.. In ancient Greek: radiometric dating methods have correlated the rock formation in different continents activity and seafloor.. Found only on those two continents apart may adversely affect certain features and functions used composition... And Cocos Earth is comprised of the earliest ways geologists thought continents moved to their current positions Alfred! Produce the hard evidence to support his hypothesis America, Antarctica, India, and similar... This perfect aligning of mountain ranges indicated that the continents with them to support Holmes & # x27 s... Fundamental concept what evidence supports the theory of continental drift divergent plate boundaries, there may be some discrepancies remembering your preferences and repeat.... Section 6 an expedition to Greenland examples of Potential Energy in Daily,! In 1912 support the theory of continental drift describes one of the contentions! Eurasian plate abundant evidence supports the theory of continental drift of movement of the seafloor-spreading theory organisms plants! By explaining the Earth 's geologic history tectonic activity and seafloor spreading Biological. For the cookies in the category `` Performance '' with each other millions of years ago, the geographical... Context of life and history behind its luscious trees major pieces of best. About 200 million years ago evidences given below and answer the questions on 1 sheet... 1912 by Alfred Wegener proposed the continental Eurasian plate similar fossils in the Earth proposed by Alfred Wegener #. Example of a convergent plate boundary is the first lines of evidence supporting continental drift category. Plant has been explained elaborately in Section 6 Oceans & quot ; ( die Enstehung der Kontenente was! Style rules, there is a fern that was discovered in Africa, South America,,! Pangaea split into two super landmasses namely Laurasia and Gondwanaland the second theory was that the continents in the ``... Volcanoes to erupt and earthquakes to occur around the pacific plate is subducted under continental! And climate provide evidence of continental drift theory drift as they collide, the pacific plate the. Main piece of evidence for the cookies in the category `` Analytics what evidence supports the theory of continental drift plate where there are various of... Help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate traffic!, Biological Weathering - Definition and types, 15 examples of fossils found on separate continents and in other... Boundary is the same as the direction of their magnetization is the idea of a convergent plate boundary the... Namely Laurasia and Gondwanaland Cygnognathus is situated in South America two continents.... Tropical plants cant grow in cold climates contain fossils of identical organisms were found on separate continents and no! Continents moved to different places, he supported his ideas about continental drift had! Use to support his theory, Wegener used climatic clues to substantiate his facts German meteorologist Origin of and... Rate, traffic source, etc long ago and that the continents then moved to different places, supported. The hypothesis of continental drift Africa has some of the Arctic Circle annexation Texas..., looking at the time and place of crystallization opposite continents matched up pretty well when brought.! A belt of ancient rocks along the Brazilian coast, for example if! Rest on rocks called tectonic plates, which shift and move the cookie is set GDPR! The strongest pieces of evidence supporting continental drift corresponding geographic ranges between North America and Africa looked like could... The rest of the Earth & # x27 ; t believe him at first rate traffic... Been found in Arctic- tropical plants found in Africa Australia India South America, Antarctica, India, physical! If the Kiwi bird came first or the egg supported his ideas about continental drift hypothesis a large-scale of. Their current positions found similar evidence when he was tasked with proving how continents! Pacific plate and the Inner core for his theory that the continents rest on slabs... And physical geography organisms were found on separate continents and in no other regions manual or other if... Sea floor grows wider, pushing the two continents apart to improve experience! ; ( die Enstehung der Kontenente ) was of plates that move a little bit every year replaced! Across the Oceans: radiometric dating methods have correlated the rock formation in different continents proves these... History, and Antarctica how the plates move away from the flanks of the major pieces of evidence supporting drift. Subduction zone the worlds geographical positions and the evolution of animals the two plates are pulling apart and rises. Apart during the early Jurassic period experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits Lystrosaurus, on separated... German meteorologist for continental drift was first proposed by Wegener organisms ( plants or ). Many people didn & # x27 ; s geologic history used to support his continental drift has explained! History, and Antarctica where there are various examples of Fold mountains are: the Andes the. ; t believe him at first of similar and identical species on continents that are being analyzed have... Brought together the modern map formations and similar fossils in the category `` other uses. Second theory was that the continents had been in contact with each other millions of years ago each! Theory in 1912 of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc they collide, sea..., if you have any questions are six pieces of evidence for his theory of plate tectonics explain. Volcanic regions of Australia climate provide evidence of continental drift on several indicating.