PANGAEA YEAR 1 SCIENCE. EQ: WHAT EVIDENCE DID ALFRED WEGENER USE TO PROVE CONTINENTAL DRIFT?

PANGAEAYEAR 1 SCIENCE

EQ: WHAT EVIDENCE DID ALFRED WEGENER USE TO PROVE CONTINENTAL DRIFT?

PANGAEA NOTES

ALFRED WEGENER

• German Scientist• Came up with the Theory of Continental Drift• At one time, the continents were once connected

to form a supercontinent• The landmasses have drifted apart over the years

• The supercontinent = Pangaea

EVIDENCE #1

1) FOSSILS: fossils of the same plants and animals were found on separated continents

EVIDENCE #2

2) CLIMATE CHANGE: scratches on rocks found in South Africa were caused by glaciers; fossils of tropical plants have been found in the cold Arctic

EVIDENCE #3

3) LAND FEATURES: similar rocks found in multiple regions; mountain ranges on various continents line up with each other

PROOF?

• No one believed Alfred because he couldn’t provide WHY the continents were moving, so his hypothesis was rejected.

• It wasn’t until Alfred’s death that a man by the name of Harry Hess came up with the theory of sea-floor spreading, which proved Alfred’s theory to be correct.

ALFRED WEGENER

Wegener's Theory of Continental Drift