What was Alfred Wegener’s hypothesis? What did Wegener propose to be true in his 1915 book titled, The Origin of Continents and Oceans?

Pangaea = Super Continent Theorized that all of the continents were together as one large landmass, 300 million years ago. Over time, the continents split into separate pieces and shifted around the world.

Pangaea – Splitting Apart

The Continental Drift Theory was not an original idea. Abraham Ortelius first announced his theory in What set Alfred Wegener apart from his predecessors and stirried up the scientific community?

Wegener had evidence to support his theory

1) Coastlines and Landforms The continents fit together like a puzzle and landforms like mountain chains also join together when the pieces are matched up.

1) Coastlines and Landforms Notice the mountain chains in purple

1) Coastlines and Landforms When the continents are reassembled, the mountain chains form a continuous belt, thus having the same rock types, structures and rock ages.

1) Coastlines and Landforms Here is a better look at the landform features (mountains)

2) Climate Coal that is formed in warm swampy areas was found in Antarctica. Signs of glacial scarring found in rocks of mild climates. Tropical plant fossils found on island in the Arctic Ocean. Glacial features of the same age found in areas that would match up if landmass pieced together

3) Fossils – Mesosaurus

3) Fossils – All 4 in one map Cynognathus - land reptile Lystrosaurus – land reptile Mesosaurus – freshwater reptile Glossopteris - fern

Problem! Wegener couldn’t explain HOW the continents moved and the theory was shelved for several years.

Task #1 Use the first letter of the four fossils mentioned earlier (C, M, L, G) to create a cast or mold of an imaginary Pangaea fossil.

Preparing for Task #2 Synthesize – Take two different things and explain relationships between the two Example #1: Gum and the weathering of rocks Example #2: Newspaper and soil composition

Task #2 Using what you know about the human body and the Continental Drift Theory, synthesize the two to make connections between their relationship.