Contnental Drift Theory

Question 1

Who introduced the continental drift theory and when?

Answer 1

Alfred Wegner introduced the Continental Drift Theory in 1912.

Question 2

What does the continental drift theory state?

Answer 2

The continental drift theory explains that earth landmasses are in constant motion.
It suggests that around 200 million years ago, Earth’s continents were once joined together in a single landmass called Pangaea.
Over millions of years, this supercontinent gradually broke apart, and the continents drifted to their current positions.
It was proposed by Alfred Wegner.

Wegener’s theory was based on evidence such as fossil distribution and matching geological formations across continents, but it lacked a mechanism until plate tectonics provided an explanation.

Question 3

What are the evidences behind the CDT?

Answer 3

1. The apparent fit of the continents
2. Fossil Correlation
3. Rock and Mountain Correlation
4. Paleo-Climatic Evidence

Question 4

Explain the evidence:
The apparent fit of the continents

Answer 4

1. Matching large-scale geological features on different continents.
2. Coastlines of various continents lineup
3. For example - South America and West Africa’s coastlines align.
4. Terrain of separate continents confirms alignment.
5. This means that the continent, once upon time, had to have been joined for their coastlines to lineup like this.

Question 5

Explain the evidence:
Rock and Mountain correlation

Answer 5

1. Rocks formed side-by-side and the land had since moved apart.
2. Mountain ranges with similar types, structures, and ages are now on opposite Atlantic Ocean sides.
3. For example - the Appalachians of the eastern United States and Canada are just like the mountain regions in eastern Greenland, Ireland, Great Britain, and Norway.
4. Wegner concluded that they formed as a single mountain range, and were separated as the continents drifted.

Question 6

Explain the evidence:
Fossil correlation

Answer 6

1. Fossils found in separate continents.
2. Oceans act as barrier for fossil transfer.
3. Confirms continents once joined together, as these fossils can’t swim across oceans or fly.

Question 7

Explain the evidence:
Paleo-Climatic evidence

Answer 7

1. Coral reefs and coal-forming swamps found in tropical and subtropical environments.
2. However, Ancient coal seams and coral reefs found in colder climate zones, such as Antarctica.
3. Wegener suggested these creatures lived in warm climate zones, and that the fossils and coal later had drifted to new locations on the continents.