1. Theory of Continental Drift
Cornell Notes
Pg. 91

2. The Theory of Continental Drift
Alfred Wegener (1910)
Claimed all the continents were once joined together and have drifted apart

3. Wegener’s Evidence 1. Shape of Continents
Continents seem to fit together like a puzzle

4. Wegener’s Evidence 2. Fossil Evidence
Same species of ancient plants/animals found in many different continents
unlikely they evolved on two separate continents, and couldn’t travel across oceans
*Counter-claim suggests “land bridges” connected continents, but there is no evidence of this.

5. Wegener’s Evidence 3. Climate Record
Plant fossils found in Antarctica
Glacial Scarring- Ice Scratches from glaciers match up across continents, including S. America and Africa

6. Wegener’s Evidence 4. Rocks
Mountain ranges match up
Rock types/ages match in areas that align with other continents
Same lava flow formed rocks

8. Wegener’s DATA

9. Pangaea Continents were joined together in one land mass
“The super continent” 245 mya

12. Which way are the continents moving today?