Continents on the move Flashcards
What is continental drift?
The continental drift theory is where the continents were once all together but moved apart.
What is Pangea?
Where all the continents were touching during the Permian period. Called a super continent. Is translates to “entire earth”.
What is Panthalassa?
Panthalassa was the super-ocean which surrounded the super continent.
Who was Alfred Wegener?
Alfred Wegener was a German meteorologist. 1880-1930. Who devoted his life to find the explanation to the continental drift. He said “I think the continents are moving. He believed in the continental drift theory where the continents were once all together but moved apart. He wrote a book called “The origin of continents and oceans”.
Upon what pieces of evidence did Alfred Wegener base his theory of continental drift?
The first piece of evidence is that the continents seem to fit together like a puzzle. The Apparent fit of the Continents
The second piece of evidence is fossil correlation. Identical fossils have been found on opposite sides of the ocean.
The third piece of evidence is rock and mountain correlation. Identical rocks and mountain structures can be found on opposite sides of the world.
The fourth piece of evidence is Paleo climate data. The observation that coal has been found in cold regions and glacial evidence been found in warm regions.
According to his theory, upon which layers of the earth are the continents floating?
The continents are floating on the mantle. The only continent that has not drastically move is Eurasia.
