1. The Argument for Continental Drift

2. Alfred L. Wegener
Geologist Alfred Wegener noticed similar rocks & fossil remains were found on continents which seemed to fit together
He called this “super” continent called Pangaea
In 1912 Wegener published the first version & died defending his theory

3. PANGAEA
the large landmass that included all of Earth’s present day continents

4. Permian 225 million years ago

5. Triassic 200 million years ago

6. Jurassic 135 million years ago

7. Cretaceous 65 million years ago

8. Present Day

9. CONTINENTAL DRIFT

10. Support for Continental Drift
1. SHAPE of the continents
Continents fit together like puzzle pieces

11. Support for Continental Drift
2. FOSSIL EVIDENCE
SAME FOSSILS: DIFFERENT CONTINENTS
Mesosaurus was incapable of swimming across a large ocean.

12. Support for Continental Drift
3. ROCK EVIDENCE – Mountain ranges
SAME ROCK: DIFFERENT RANGE Existing mountain ranges separated by vast oceans contain rocks of identical mineral content.
A prime example are the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern U.S and the Caledonian Mountains in the British Isles.

13. SAME SCARS: DIFFERENT CONTINENTS
Support for Continental Drift
4. GLACIAL SCARS
SAME SCARS: DIFFERENT CONTINENTS

14. 5. LOCATION OF Coal Deposits
Support for Continental Drift
5. LOCATION OF Coal Deposits
Coal deposits have been found in temperate and polar regions; however, coal is formed in tropical regions.

15. CONTINENTAL DRIFT IN DOUBT
Why didn’t people believe in continental drift?
People couldn’t imagine how the earth could be millions of years old
People couldn’t imagine a force great enough to move the continents

16. THE TRUTH!
North America moves about 1 to 2 centimeters away from Europe every year.

17. The Earth’s Crust The Earth’s crust consists of a number of Plates
Plate: large pieces of the crust that moves

18. Plate Tectonics: The interaction of the crustal plates

19. Convergent Convergent = Coming together
Over riding plate goes over the top
Subducting plate slides underneath
Boundry is the area where the two meet

20. Moving Plates
Divergent = Moving apart

21. Moving Plates
Transform = Moving laterally