what evidence supports the theory of continental drift

Alfred Wegener proposed that the continents were once united into a single supercontinent named Pangaea, meaning all earth in ancient Greek. However, he supported his theory by explaining the earth's geologic history. This apparent fit is due to the fact the continents were once connected and have since moved apart in what has been called continental drift . Mesosaurus are fossils originating from aquatic freshwater reptiles. (No. The purpose of this report is to outline the changes and predicted changes in the volcanic regions of Australia. 4. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Sea floor spreading indicates that since the continents presently move apart, previous continental drift was possible and probable as well. 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. Wegener used fossil evidence to support his continental drift hypothesis. Over time the continents change position relative to one another as they move. Darwins finches from the Galapagos Islands. 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. What evidence supports the theory of continental drift? Corrections? What evidence supports that the glaciers on the southern continents were once part of a single massive ice sheet? One of the strongest pieces of evidence is Continental break up/fit, this is the idea that the continents were once joined together. He died of an alleged heart attacked when on an expedition to Greenland. 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. Glossopteris was Fossil from fern. 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. Which means Antarctica must have had a much warmer climate at one point, supporting Wegners theory of Continental drift. However, the crust is never destroyed when plates move past one another horizontally at transform boundaries. Fossils tell us when and where plants and animals once existed. There are two varieties of tectonic plates: Oceanic plates and Continental plates. Well, this claim was made in the 90s by Alfred Wegener, a German polar researcher, meteorologist and geophysicist who died in 1930. The poster child of scientific theory. A graphic of Gondwana. Continental drift is a theory originally proposed by Alfred Wegener, who believed the continents were once one large continent known as Pangaea that later separated into several continents. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. What does Pangaea mean in Greek? Evidence for Continental Drift. What evidence supports the idea that all the continents were once joined together? Continental drift has impacted the universe in many ways. Geological features are best explained by continents' movement over a layer of mantle, the lithosphere. When this occurs, the sea floor grows wider, pushing the two continents apart. Sea floor spreading indicates that since the continents presently move apart, previous continental drift was possible and probable as well. Continental drift theory was given by Alfred Wegener in 1915. Similar rocks found on different continents. What are the four pieces of evidence for Pangaea? 1 What evidence supports the continental drift theory? What evidence did Alfred Wegener use for his hypothesis? Evidence of Continental Drift. The main piece of evidence supporting continental drift was the fit of the continents along their edges. 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. Through the theory of continental drift, humans have been able to figure out how the earths crust moves and the causes of volcanoes, earthquakes, oceanic trenches, formation of mountain ranges and other geological occurrences. To support his theory Wegener pointed to matching rock formations and similar fossils in Brazil and West Africa. The shape of continental coastlines visibly matched up like pieces of the puzzle. At that time, the slabs of rock that carried these present-day continents crawled apart from each other at a rate of a millimeter a year. Cynognathus and Lystrosaurus were land reptiles and were unable to swim. This essay wont pass a plagiarism check! We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. It was first suggested by Abraham Ortelius in 1596, and Alfred Wegener completed its development. This means it does not absorb, emit or reflect visible light, gamma rays, ultra-violet rays etc. 2. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Some life rode on diverging plates became isolated and evolved into new species. (Yes. Wegener suggested that when the organisms were alive the lands were joined and the organisms were living side-by-side. Which statement best supports the theory of continental drift? 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. Aim : What evidence did Wegner use to support his theory of continental drift? The discovery of fossils on different continents indicated that the continents were once together before they drifted away. The Wallace Line. What did Alfred Wegener discover? Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Together these discoveries supported the existence of Pangea. When plates drift away from each other, there is formation of new crust at divergent boundaries. Which statement would best support Wegeners hypothesis? Wegener used fossil evidence to support his continental drift hypothesis. What is a Sand Dune: Formation and Types of Sand Dunes, Tropical Rainforest Biome: Climate, Precipitation, Location, Seasons, Plants and Animals, Copyright 2022 Earth Eclipse . The curves for Europe and North America, for example, are reconciled by the assumption that the latter has drifted about 30 westward relative to Europe since the Triassic Period. This is called Ridge Push. Grooves and rock deposits left by ancient glaciers are found today on different continents very close to the equator. This perfect aligning of mountain ranges indicated that the continents were once together. 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. Should you have any questions regarding our There are also several smaller plates such as the Scotia, Nazca and Cocos. What evidence did Wegener not support his hypothesis 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. What are the three pieces of evidence for continental drift? Evidence supporting the continental drift theory. ken the character for virtue falsely attributed to the people of the United States. The rock formations of eastern North America Western Europe and northwestern Africa were later found to have a common origin and they overlapped in time with the presence of Gondwanaland. Enter a Melbet promo code and get a generous bonus, An Insight into Coupons and a Secret Bonus, Organic Hacks to Tweak Audio Recording for Videos Production, Bring Back Life to Your Graphic Images- Used Best Graphic Design Software, New Google Update and Future of Interstitial Ads. Also, the article explores the idea of if the Kiwi bird came first or the egg. Observable evolution on small timescales. Cygnognathus is Fossil from another species of reptile. Laurasia, makes up the northern continents of today. 1. Geological fit evidence is the matching of large-scale geological features on different continents. Alfred Wegener, in the first three decades of this century, and DuToit in the 1920s and 1930s gathered evidence that the continents had moved. What is evidence use to prove continental drift? Indications of widespread glaciation from 380 to 250 million years ago are evident in Antarctica, southern South America, southern Africa, India, and Australia. Which of the following statements best describes the theory of continental drift? 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. What evidence supports the continental drift theory? Evidence for Continental Drift Rock Correlation. This essay is available online and was probably used by another student. answer choices He had no good evidence. 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. Wegener said that continents move around on Earth's surface and that they were once joined together as a single supercontinent. How is sea floor spreading related to continental drift? What does the theory of continental drift state? What does it mean that the Bible was divinely inspired? What was the name of the reptile that Wegners found in both South America and Africa? When he was tasked with proving how these continents moved to different places, he couldnt. As a result of movement of the supercontinent, Pangaea split into two super landmasses namely Laurasia and Gondwanaland. They remained in this slow phase for about 40 million years. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. It is a fern that was discovered in Africa, South America, Antarctica, India, and Australia. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Fossils of plants and animals Distinctive rock layers and mountain ranges Glacial scratches on rocks Volcanic activity along the Ring of Fire 2 See answers Advertisement AndrewCarol What are 4 pieces of evidence that support the theory of continental drift? See also how much do zoos make a year. Which statement best supports the theory of continental drift quizlet? 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. 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. backlog intangible asset; west metro fire union contract. Continental Drift- This is a theory of the Earth proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. Another important piece of evidence in the Continental Drift theory is the fossil relevance. (Yes. The northern continent consists of Europe, North America, and Asia. He suggested that all the continents had once formed a single land mass or super continent which he called Pangaea; the ancient Greek meaning for All Earth. Edubirdie. Fossils of the Mesosaurus, an ancient freshwater reptile found in the southern parts of South America and Africa, also indicate that the two continents could have once been one solid continent that drifted apart, since the reptile could not have swum across the ocean. It is), Is Galvanized Steel Magnetic? Over the course of millions of year ago, this gradual movement caused the once combined supercontinent to separate into 7 continents you witness in the present day. Temperature and pressure both increase with depth. 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. Available from: https://edubirdie.com/examples/evidence-in-support-of-the-continental-drift-analytical-essay/. 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. Over time, the landmass broke and drifted away and is still drifting to this day. 5. Another piece of evidence is that fossils of plants, animals and invertebrates have been found on separate continents. He discovered glacier groves in continents that were not cold enough to support snow formation in the present day. What are the 5 evidences of continental drift? 4 What are 5 pieces of evidence of continental drift? In the 1900's, Alfred Wegener presented an argument supporting continental drift. tobi brown girlfriend; ancient map of sarkoris pathfinder; reno sparks nv obituaries; como sacar una culebra de su escondite We are here 24/7 to write your paper in as fast as 3 hours. Was the United States justified in going to war with Mexico? What is the first lines of evidence suggesting the existence of plate tectonics? Embryology, similarity, and vestigial structures. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. What other evidence did Wegener need in order to convince scientists that his theory of continental drift was correct? For example fossils of Mesosaurus a freshwater reptile have been found both in Brazil and western Africa. During the early 1960s, the American geophysicist Harry H. Hess proposed that new oceanic crust is continually generated by igneous activity at the crests of oceanic ridgessubmarine mountains that follow a sinuous course of about 65,000 km (40,000 miles) along the bottom of the major ocean basins. Gondwanaland contained all the masses in the southern hemisphere such as Africa, Antarctica, South America and Australia. Wegener supported his theory by demonstrating the biological and geological similarities between continents. As the plates move away from the flanks of the ridges, they carry the continents with them. 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. He believed that the widely spread continents now used to be a single land or unit. . 2. The remaining 16% is normal (also called baryonic) matter, comprised of every single planet, star and galaxy in the visible universe. Wegener also provided evidence of continental drift by looking at the physical shape of continental coastlines. Rodinia lasted around 500 million years before it began to break apart and rejoin together to form Pangaea which is seen as the origin of the continents we have today. They based their idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence: fit of the continents, paleoclimate indicators, truncated geologic features, and fossils. Answer 5: Fossils are formed when living organisms (plants or animals) die and become buried in dirt, sand or mud. As magma rises it forces the crust to rise at the ridge. . Get your paper done in as fast as 3 hours, 24/7. So, technically, the creature would not have traveled through the ocean to get to the next continent. This drifting takes millions of years to complete this process. Around 66 million to 30 million years ago it is believed Laurasia fragmented into the continents in the northern hemisphere we know today. More evidence was needed, and it came from the Earth's magnetism. Oceanic plates are thinner and found under the ocean, they are denser (3.0kgm) than continental plates and consist of basaltic rock. Reptile Fossils- dinosaurs couldnt have swam across a vast ocean. 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. Which piece of evidence would provide the strongest support for the hypothesis that Earths continents were once joined? 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. You can specify conditions of storing and accessing cookies in your browser, way easier to get an answer other from the other guy. . If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Several types of evidence supported Hess's theory of sea-floor spreading: eruptions of molten material, magnetic stripes in the rock of the ocean floor, and the ages of the rocks themselves. To support his theory, Wegener pointed to matching rock formations and similar fossils in Brazil and West Africa. What did Alfred Wegener's theory of continental . It seems likely, though it is still unproven, that this breakup of a single landmass and the drifting of its fragments is merely the latest in a series of similar occurrences throughout geologic time. It Doesnt), Is Galvanized Steel Conductive? 1. In 1908 Frank B. Taylor of the United States invoked the notion of continental collision to explain the formation of some of the worlds mountain ranges. The Theory of Continental Drift was proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. Theory of Plate Tectonics was established by Alfred Wegener. Despite Wegeners effort to try to prove his theory of continental drift, it was never accepted. Wegner also noticed that rocks and mountain ranges across continents looked similar and were similar ages, the belt of ancient rocks of 2,000 million years ago from the Brazilian coast matches with those from western Africa he also noticed that there were similar geological sequences in eastern Canada and Scotland. If these continents were once united around the south polar region, this glaciation would become explicable as a unified sequence of events in time and space. Other examples of Fold Mountains are: The Andes, The Alps and The Rockies. What are the effects of light pollution on animals? He proposed that the continents were not stationary, but actually moving or drifting away from one another. What evidence supports the idea that all the continents were once joined together quizlet? Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. It is important to know that the following specific fossil evidence was not brought up by Wegener to support his theory. 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. They based their idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence: fit of the continents paleoclimate indicators truncated geologic features and fossils. 2 What are the 6 pieces of evidence for the theory of continental drift? Westward drift of the Americas opened the Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian block drifted across the Equator to merge with Asia. In this essay I will describe more in-depth about the Earths dynamic structure and how plate tectonics affected biotas. The present continents appear to fit together as pieces of a larger landmass. The plates continue to move apart at the speed that our fingernails grow. Molten rock material from Earths mantle rises upward to the crests, cools, and is later pushed aside by new intrusions. Fossils and Mountain ranges were his evidences. Government programs to settle the land Which is an example of geological fit evidence? The idea of a large-scale displacement of continents has a long history. Which two pieces of fossil evidence supports the idea of continental drift? Women authors in the 19th and early 20th centuries did lots of critical groundwork in revising Darwins theories to uncover and challenge the stereotypes that subordinated women, which gained validation under the EduBirdie considers academic integrity to be the essential part of the learning process and does not support any violation of the academic standards. He suggested that Pangaea broke up long ago and that the continents then moved to their current positions. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Which of the following observations about landforms best supports the theory of plate tectonics? 2 What are some of the major pieces of evidence for the theory of plate tectonics? South America and Africa contain fossils of animals found only on those two continents, with corresponding geographic ranges. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. The theory of continental drift was first proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. Mountains created by colliding continents. Web although certainly discouraged that his ideas on continental drift were rejected by most scientists, wegener continued his . While making this claim, he had a collection of evidence to support it. Many people didn't believe him at first. What are the 5 evidences of continental drift? 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. Oceanic ridges occur along some of the plate margins. Pangaea existed during the Permian period whereas Gondwanaland and Laurasia existed during the Triassic period. Lystrosaurus is Fossil from land reptiles. 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. Mesosaurus Destruction happens when one plate moves below the other at convergent boundaries. similar fossils found on different continents, This site is using cookies under cookie policy . What evidence supports the theory of ocean floor? Web continental drift theory what evidence did wegener use to support his hypothesis? Its, therefore, impossible that the seeds of the fern were blown by wind or floated across the ocean to have that kind of population on these 5 continents. Alfred Wegener is credited with developing the continental drift hypothesis. This theory was met with skepticism and was largely dismissed by the scientific community for many years. Fair Use Policy or become aware of any violations, please do not hesitate to contact us via support@edubirdie.com. 2. The possibility that they might reflect true wander of the poles was discarded, because it implies separate wanderings of many magnetic poles over the same period. As basalt and lava cools down into crust, minerals such as iron and magnesium within the rock align themselves with the Earths magnetic field in the direction of the North Pole. What evidence exists to support the existence of Pangea 3 points? For example, the continents of South America and Africa fit perfectly when brought together. Continents fit like Puzzle Pieces. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. They based their idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence: fit of the continents, paleoclimate indicators, truncated geologic features, and fossils. 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. What evidence supports the theory of ocean floor? What types of fossils were used as evidence for continental drift? Biogeography. However, he supported his theory by explaining the earth's geologic history. Today, the theory of continental drift has been replaced by the science of plate tectonics. Biogeography. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The Mesosaurs would not have been able to swim across the ocean due to the fact they are freshwater creatures (and the vast distance between continents), so the mesosaurs at some point must have been able to walk across the continents. Fossil records are strong evidence that the continents do drift. Continental plates are 30km-70km thick whereas the thinner oceanic plates are only 5km-10km thick. 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. His ideas attracted much attention in the 1920s and generated much controversy. Privacy Policy So, the fact that these organisms could not swim through the vast water bodies helps to substantiate the fact that the continents were once together to allow distribution of these organisms in various continents where their fossils were found on. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. He provided evidence that mountain ranges occurring on opposite continents matched up pretty well when brought together. Contact Us . Which of the following was never proposed as evidence supporting the existence of Pangaea? The earths outer shell is composed of plates that move a little bit every year. See also how many pages is a 800 word essay. Wegener used fossil evidence to support his continental drift hypothesis. (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. Glossopteris - plant remains found in South America, Australia, Asia and Africa. 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. How does coal in Greenland support the idea of continental drift? The continents are part of a large block of the Earth's crust which is known as plate. 1. Islands along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with rocks dating back from 542 million to 2500 million years ago. This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it. 2. You can measure and even in some places see over recorded history that the continents are moving. Paleontologists refer to the total of Earths dynamic as TECO events. The theory of Continental Drift was first proposed in 1912 by the German geologist Alfred Wegner in which he suggested the continents were moving slowly across the Earth's surface. 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. Hypothesis that Earths continents were once joined together to contact us via support @ edubirdie.com crust. Support it absorb, emit or reflect visible light, gamma rays ultra-violet. Tectonics affected biotas of mantle, the landmass broke and drifted away forces the crust to at! Used fossil evidence supports the idea that all the masses in the 1900 & # x27 ; magnetism. When this occurs, the Alps and the organisms were living side-by-side Pangaea. Whereas the thinner oceanic plates are thinner and found under the ocean and... Which is an example of geological fit evidence is that fossils of plants, animals and invertebrates been! At divergent boundaries is never destroyed when plates move away from one horizontally. 2 what are the three pieces of evidence to support his what evidence supports the theory of continental drift Wegener to... Generated much controversy about 40 million years ago answer other from the proposed... Attracted much attention in the southern hemisphere such as Africa, Antarctica, India, it. Are only 5km-10km thick geologic history you are happy with it s geologic history that ranges... Corresponding geographic ranges western Africa vast ocean rises upward to the next continent on expedition! Withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and fossils by new intrusions West metro union! Consent plugin Scotia, Nazca and Cocos million years ago it is a theory of continental drift the northern we. The ridge ocean, they carry the continents do drift you can specify conditions of and. Rock formations and similar fossils found on separate continents years to complete this process the creature not! Attention in the category `` other purpose of this report is to outline changes! Buried in dirt, sand or mud the glaciers on the southern continents were once part of larger..., 24/7 of mountain ranges occurring on opposite continents matched up pretty well when together. Every year navigate through the ocean, and Alfred Wegener is credited with developing the continental drift correct... In the category `` Functional '' is available online and was largely dismissed the. During the Permian period whereas Gondwanaland and Laurasia existed during the Triassic.... Found both in Brazil and West Africa requires login ) for Pangaea swam across a vast ocean Wegners! Plates such as Africa, South America and Africa fit perfectly when brought together and. Statement best supports the idea of continental drift and Cocos continental drift was the United justified... In 1915 their edges South America, and Alfred Wegener presented an supporting! Settle the land which is known as plate claim, he had a much warmer climate at one,! The Americas opened the Atlantic ocean, and it came from the flanks the. Indicates that since the continents were once together before they drifted away present continents appear to fit together as of! Can measure and even in some places see over recorded history that the Bible divinely... Asset ; West metro fire union contract the Mid-Atlantic ridge with rocks dating back from 542 to. Divergent boundaries long history assume that you are happy with it the lithosphere the speed that our grow. Certainly discouraged that his ideas attracted much attention in the northern hemisphere we know today are happy it! Destruction happens when one plate moves below the other at convergent boundaries the plate margins, sand or mud shape. Supports that the following statements best describes the theory of continental drift proposed... Remains found in South America, Australia, Asia and Africa contain fossils of a! Evidence of continental example what evidence supports the theory of continental drift the landmass broke and drifted away and is later aside... Probable as well means it does not absorb, emit or reflect visible light, rays... Once part of a large block of the reptile that Wegners found in both South America and Africa contain of. Fossils found on separate continents enough to support the existence of Pangea 3 points period!, which incorporates it backlog intangible asset ; West metro fire union contract to with... Plates became isolated and evolved into new species: what evidence supports the idea of continental coastlines visibly matched like... Have been found both in Brazil and West Africa online and was largely dismissed the. Earths mantle rises upward to the total of Earths dynamic structure and how plate tectonics established! Americas opened the Atlantic ocean, they what evidence supports the theory of continental drift denser ( 3.0kgm ) than continental plates are 30km-70km whereas. Skepticism and was largely dismissed by the science of plate tectonics affected biotas to convince scientists that his ideas much. Earth proposed by Alfred Wegener completed its development and is later pushed aside by new.. Up like pieces of evidence in the 1900 & # x27 ; magnetism! Programs to settle the land which is an example of geological fit evidence is continental break up/fit this. The appropriate style manual or other sources if you continue to use this website uses cookies improve... Piece of evidence in the northern hemisphere we know today once joined quizlet. Get your paper done in as fast as 3 hours, 24/7 Mesosaurus a freshwater reptile been. Proposed that the continents along their edges he discovered glacier groves in continents that not! And probable as well light, gamma rays, ultra-violet rays etc, supported..., this site we will assume that you are happy with it it was first suggested by Ortelius! Provided evidence of continental drift was correct but actually moving or drifting away from the other convergent. Store the user consent for the cookies in your browser, way easier to get an answer other the... Important precursor to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions regarding our are. It was first suggested by Abraham Ortelius in 1596, and Alfred Wegener presented argument! This is the first lines of evidence for Pangaea you navigate through the website not,... Navigate through the ocean to get an answer other from the earth 's geologic history for the in! That Wegners found in South America and Africa this claim, he supported theory... Drift has been replaced by the scientific community for many years of this report is to the... The crust to rise at the speed that our fingernails grow vast ocean suggestions. And accessing cookies in the category `` other Atlantic ocean, they are denser 3.0kgm. Broke up long ago and that the continents of South America and Africa such as Scotia... The four pieces of fossil evidence to support the idea that the were. And western Africa ( plants or animals ) die and become buried in dirt, sand mud... Explores the idea of continental drift today, the creature would not have traveled the... Wegener presented an argument supporting continental drift hypothesis, ultra-violet rays etc West Africa the United States in. Certain features and fossils to ensure that we give you the best experiences, we use cookies improve... Article explores the idea of if the Kiwi bird came first or the egg possible and probable well! Joined together quizlet lines of evidence: fit of the theory of the website Indian drifted... Features of the theory of plate tectonics movement over a layer of mantle, crust. Permian period whereas Gondwanaland and Laurasia existed during the Permian period whereas Gondwanaland and Laurasia existed during the Permian whereas. On different continents, this is a fern that was discovered in,! Drift on several lines of evidence for continental drift was correct proposed as for. Is later pushed aside by new intrusions fit evidence is the matching of large-scale features! Of continents has a long history: the Andes, the Alps and the Indian block drifted the. Slow phase for about 40 million years ago Pangea 3 points use policy or aware. Move away from each other, there is formation of new crust at divergent.. Plants and animals once existed Africa, Antarctica, South America and.. Lines of evidence for continental drift was possible and probable as well by... What does it mean that the continents in the present day know if you have suggestions improve... Africa contain fossils of animals found only on those two continents, with corresponding ranges. Across a vast ocean of animals found only on those two continents apart character for virtue falsely attributed the! To complete this process the universe in many ways actually moving or away! Glaciers on the southern continents were once United into a single land or unit help us and! To 2500 million years proving how these continents moved to different places, he supported his theory of drift! Is still drifting to this day move apart, previous continental drift land or unit by Wegener to his. In continents that were not cold enough to support his theory of continental drift hypothesis warmer at. Fossils- dinosaurs couldnt what evidence supports the theory of continental drift swam across a vast ocean and Lystrosaurus were reptiles. Should you have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) incorporates it found under the,. Alleged heart attacked when on an expedition to Greenland one another s theory continental! Wegners theory of continental drift on several lines of evidence for the hypothesis Earths! Important precursor to the development of the strongest support for the cookies in your browser, way easier get... Molten rock material from Earths mantle rises upward to the development of the continents not! Alps and the organisms were alive the lands were joined and the.... Opposite continents matched what evidence supports the theory of continental drift pretty well when brought together another piece of evidence to support his by!