The breakthrough of the theory of continental drift the scientific community wrangled about wegeners theory for more than four decades before the theory of plate tectonics evolved. Discusses how the lack of a plausible mechanism kept wegener s colleagues from accepting his continental drift hypothesis. My question assumes it is real, meaning that no, they havent stayed the same. In 1943 george gaylord simpson wrote a vehement attack on the theory as well as the rival theory of sunken land.
Wegeners continental drift lesson plan the coldstones cut. Mar 20, 20 alfred wegener, a scientist from germanys theory was the continental drift. While wegener was alive, scientists did not believe that the. Wegener thought continental drift was the key to these climatic puzzles, so he and vladimir koppen plotted ancient deserts, jungles, and ice sheets on paleogeographic maps based on wegeners theory. Facts to be accounted for by theories of crustal evolution iii. List and describe some of the evidence for the theory of continental drift. This open educational resource is free of charge, under a creative. Wegener hypothesis of continental drift a catchy phrase adopted mainly by the critics, as wegener talks more general of displacement theory was received with mixed feelings. Continentaldrift continental drift in 1915 alfred wegener. The continental drift theory first supported by alfred wegener, is the theory that 220 million years ago the continents known today were once a supercontinent known as pangaea.
Creator of the continental drift theory makers of modern science yount, lisa on. Wegener and the theory of continental drift alfred wegener 18801930 was a german scientist in the fields of meteorology, astronomy, and geology. Alfred wegeners hypothesis on continental drift and its. Suddenly the pieces of the puzzles fell into place, producing simple, plausible pictures of past climates. Jan 16, 2015 theory of continental drift, which states that parts of the earths crust slowly drift atop a liquid core. The comment also ignored the vast timescale over which continental drift has occurred, effectively the total age of the earth of about 4. The theory of continental drift continental drift discovery the world alfred wegener theory of continental drift continental drift p95 red book, 182 in sciencesaurus theory that continents were once part of a single landmass that broke apart and have moved to their present locations. Continents cover 29 percent of the surface of the earth and remainder is under oceanic waters. The breakthrough came about in the early 1950s when the imprints of the earths magnetic history, the study of which is called paleomagnetism, were closely. These anonymous soldiers soon come to represent not only the range of human tragedy in the war but also the possibility of redemption. The reaction to alfred wegener s theory tells us much about the workings of science.
To begin with, the current geologic theory was that the crust was all. In this article we will discuss about continental drift. However, over the past 50 years, scientists have used the theory of continental drift to develop the current theory the theory of plate tectonics. Thirty years, later, harry hess provided the proof needed to complete wegeners theory and. A large supercontinent pangea split into smaller fragments about. Evidence from landforms the shapes of the continents seemed to fit together. According to wegners theory, there was only one large continent 300 million years ago. Oct 31, 2008 continental drift and plate tectonics slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Alfred wegener, a german meteorologist, was the first to begin to work out details to explain this interesting observation. The rejection of continental drift uc press journals. Jul 21, 2014 theory of continental drift this card set contains common vocabulary and evidence about the theory of continental drift and alfred wegener. Thirty years, later, harry hess provided the proof needed to complete wegener s theory and.
Six seismologists and a civil servant, charged with manslaughter for failing to predict a 2009 earthquake that killed 308 people in the apennine mountain city of laquila, in italy, will serve six years in prison. Continental drift and plate tectonics university of iceland. Assuming a flat earth, how would the continents have developed differently in a round earth environment. The megaocean is called panthalassa which means all water. Continental drift is the theory that the earths continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have drifted across the ocean bed. The coasts of the continents surrounding the atlantic ocean could fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. In 1943 george gaylord simpson wrote a vehement attack on the theory as well as the rival theory of sunken land bridges and put forward his own permanentist views. Wegener and the theory of continental drift free essays.
Alfred wegner was a german meteorologist who put forth the continental drift theory in 1912 it is considered that there was a single landmass called pangaea which means all earth. Alfred wegener was a german scientist trained in astronomy, but he had a strong interest in geology as well. Heather hauser shorter university easc 2060 the natural world submitted by lillie momon december 6, 2011 running head. Contractional theory, continental drift and plate tectonics.
The book was revised in 1920, 1922 and 1929 in response to criticisms of the theory and advances in earth sciences. Continental drift plates in the crust of the earth, according to the plate tectonics theory from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia continental drift is the movement of the earths continents relative to each other. Continental drift the theory of continental drift is defined as the movement of the earths continents relative to each other, thereby appearing to drift together across the oceanic bed. Continental drift was a revolutionary scientific theory developed in the years 19081912 by alfred wegener 18801930, a german meteorologist, climatologist, and geophysicist, that put forth the hypothesis that the continents had all originally been a part of one enormous landmass or supercontinent about 240 million years ago before breaking apart and drifting to their current locations. According to continental drift theory, all modern continents spawned from a single one called pangea. The observation of wegener s theory was that the identical fossils were found on continents that were far apart. Alfred wegener, a scientist from germanys theory was the continental drift. It is now well known that the concept of drifting continents became an estab lished theory during the 1960s. A viewpoint on the theory of continental drift, developed by alfred wagener. The viewpoint includes a description of the theory, the evidence to support it, and reasons why some people did not support it. Enrol and complete the course for a free statement of participation or digital badge if. Continental drift and plate tectonics slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. To summarise, the theory of continental drift was published by wegener in 1912.
While wegener was alive, scientists did not believe that the continents could move. Pangaea then split, and its pieces drifted, or moved, apart over millions of years to form todays continents. Long ago there was a super continent called pangaea. It is considered that there was a single landmass called pangaea which means all earth. Choose from 483 different sets of continental drift theory wegener flashcards on quizlet. A study of how the limestone of nidderdale, formed south of the equator in the tethys sea, came to be located in its present location. Living animals in widely separated lands are similar. He suggested that the continents had once been joined as a single landmass. He named this continent pangaea from the greek for all the earth, and pronounced pangeeuh. Wegener hypothesized that there was a gigantic supercontinent 200 million years ago. I use the cards during my middle school earth unit to play go drift a continental drift version of go fish for reinforcement, or when students finish an activity early and need something to do. Wegener formed a hypothesis which stated all the continents were once joined together in a giant landmass. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Learn continental drift theory wegener with free interactive flashcards.
There he argued for the separation of wegener s pangea into the two super continents, laurasia and gondwana. Pangea this animated documentary tells the story of polar explorer alfred wegener, the unlikely scientist behind continental drift theory. The fossil record supports and gives credence to the theories of continental drift and plate tectonics. Wegener and the continental drift hypothesis discusses how the lack of a plausible mechanism kept wegeners colleagues from accepting his continental drift hypothesis. Wegener also made major contributions to geology, geophysics, astronomy, geodesy, atmospheric physics, meteorology, and glaciology. However, over the past 50 years, scientists have used the theory of continental drift to develop the. There he argued for the separation of wegeners pangea into the two super continents, laurasia and gondwana. And plate tectonics supplies a mechanics for moving the continents involving convection in the earths mantle, something that. Continental drift in 1915 alfred wegener, a german geologist and meteorologist first proposed the theory of continental drift, which states that parts of the earths crust slowly drift atop a liquid core.
Taylor and the german alfred wegener, put forward a theory called continental drift. This is alfred wegener s theory of continental drift video by ayeshaibraheem on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Today, the theory of continental drift has been replaced by the science of plate tectonics. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. You are allowed to download the video for nonprofit, educational use. Alfred wegeners refined theory of continental draft tried to pinpoint pieces of proof that the continents were previously combined into a sole continent he called pangaea. Evolutionary biology of the new world monkeys and continental drift. Creator of the continental drift theory makers of modern science. Although alfred wegener was able to produce a viable hypothesis with evidence and specifically state the theory, it should be noted there were previous. Continental drift wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The observation of wegeners theory was that the identical fossils were found on continents that were far apart. He wrote the origin of continents and oceans dealing with the theory in 1915. The evidence which gave rise to the theory of continental drift more correctly called plate tectonics includes the following.
A brief introduction to alfred wegeners theory of continental. Wegener said that continents move around on earths surface and that they were once joined together as a single supercontinent. Pdf alfred wegenerfrom continental drift to plate tectonics. Theory of continental drift, which states that parts of the earths crust slowly drift atop a liquid core.
Wegeners theory of continental drift in 1912 a german scientist names alfred wegener presented his theory of continental drift to the scientific community. Jul 24, 2019 continental drift was a revolutionary scientific theory developed in the years 19081912 by alfred wegener 18801930, a german meteorologist, climatologist, and geophysicist, that put forth the hypothesis that the continents had all originally been a part of one enormous landmass or supercontinent about 240 million years ago before breaking apart and drifting to their current locations. Wegeners theory contained features, such as the notion that the average elevation of the continents would increase over time, that simply arent true. How wegener s hypothesis of continetal drift was refined. Explanation of the continental drift theory in the light of vertebrate distribution. Earth theory of continental drift go drift card game. Over time, the continents drifted apart along the earths surface to their current locations due to the rotation of the earth. Alfred wegener vegener as a young scientist, wegener was curious about earths continents.
Wegener first presented his theory of continental drift publicly in a lecture on january 6, 1912. Wegener and the continental drift hypothesis read earth. Engage your students during remote learning with video readalouds. The continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20 th century, mostly by alfred wegener. Start a free trial of quizlet plus by thanksgiving lock in 50% off all year try it free. A look at the development of the theory of continental drift and an understanding of how scientific theory develops over time. Alfred wegeners theory of continental drift video on vimeo. Search, discover and share your favorite continental drift gifs. Wegener used 3 types of evidence to prove his theory. Alfred wegener developed the modern theory of continental drift. Alfred wegener s refined theory of continental draft tried to pinpoint pieces of proof that the continents were previously combined into a sole continent he called pangaea.