Unit 1.3: Drifting Continents The theory of Continental Drift as proposed by Alfred Wegener

Alfred Wegener 1910: German scientist Wegener did multiple expeditions to Greenland to explore the last unexplored portion and do meteorological research Fought in WWI in Belgium

The Theory of Continental Drift All the continents were once joined together in a single landmass and have drifted apart This single large landmass was called “Pangea”, which means “All Land”

Evidence of Wegener’s Theory Land Features Fossils Climate Change

Land Features Mountain ranges on Africa and South America line up European coal fields match up with coal fields in North America Puzzle Pieces fit together

Fossil Evidence Fossils of exactly the same prehistoric species were distributed where you would expect them to be if there had been Continental Drift

Climate Toward the equator, the climate is warmer Toward the poles, the climate is colder Fossils of tropical plants are found in the Arctic Ocean Islands Deep scratches in rocks show that continental glaciers once covered South Africa. Perhaps South Africa was closer to the South Pole Glacial till deposits in the southern hemisphere: Continents would need to be in the Pangea formation to support this evidence