Continental Drift Theory Evidence PDF

EVIDENCES OF PLATE MOVEMENTS: CONTINENTAL DRIFT THEORY BREAK THE CODE!!! Using the Number Substitution Cypher, try to decode the numbers into letters in order to reveal the hidden words. BREAK THE CODE!!! 3+15+14+20+9+14+5+14+20+1+12 CONTINENTAL 4+18+9+6+20 DRIFT 20+8+5+15+18+25 THEORY WHAT’S...

EVIDENCES OF PLATE MOVEMENTS: CONTINENTAL DRIFT THEORY BREAK THE CODE!!! Using the Number Substitution Cypher, try to decode the numbers into letters in order to reveal the hidden words. BREAK THE CODE!!! 3+15+14+20+9+14+5+14+20+1+12 CONTINENTAL 4+18+9+6+20 DRIFT 20+8+5+15+18+25 THEORY WHAT’S IN!!! You have learned so far that Earth has distinct mechanical and compositional layers. This knowledge about the Earth's internal structure came from the indirect observation of our scientists through seismic activities. Scientists learned that as continental and oceanic crusts move, they can form geologic events such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain ranges. Lesson1: The Continental Drift Theory  Have you seen a WHAT’S NEW!!! world map before? Definitely, yes, you have seen one! Did you notice that the eastern border of South America and the Western part of Africa seem to fit together like a big jigsaw puzzle? Figure 1: Public Domain Clip Art Image: Blue World Map  The figure shows the evolution of the supercontinent pangaea to the present-day distribution of continents. Can you say that continents are Figure 2. The Evolution of Pangaea from drifting? pubs.usgs.gov Would fitting edges of continents be enough proof that the continents are drifting? What are the other pieces of evidence gathered by Wegener to support his Continental Drift Theory? EVIDENCE Alfred Wegener collected diverse pieces of evidence to support his theory, including geological "fit" and fossil evidence. It is important to know that the following specific fossil evidence was not brought up by Wegener to support his theory. Illustration showing similar rock assemblages across different continents. EVIDENCE Wegener did not collect the fossils, but he called attention to the idea of using these scientific documents stating there were fossils of species present in separate continents in order to support his claim. Illustration showing similar rock assemblages across different continents. EVIDENCE Geological "fit" evidence is the matching of large-scale geological features on different continents. It has been noted that the coastlines of South America and West Africa seem to match up, however more particularly, the rock terrains of separate continents confirm as well. Illustration showing similar rock assemblages across different continents. EVIDENCE  Glaciers carve rocks and leave marks as they move. In this evidence, scientists can determine the direction of movement of each continent.  In addition, the existence of coal deposits in Antarctica suggested that it was once located near the region of the Earth where the climate is enough to support complex life forms such as plants and tall trees. COAL DEPOSITS EVIDENCE See the figure on the right, notice the direction of the movement of the continents indicated by the arrows during Pangaea time. EVIDENCE This Pangaea started to break into smaller supercontinent called Laurasia and Gondwanaland during the Jurassic Period. These smaller supercontinents broke into the continents and these continents separated and drifted apart since then.  EVIDENCE Wegener searched for evidences to support his claim. He noticed the fit of the edges of the continents on the opposite sides of the South Atlantic. His evidences to the Continental Drift Theory includes the distribution of fossils in different continents, rock features, and ancient climates.  BASED ON THE VIDEO... 1. What is that giant supercontinent that first exist? 2. What is that single ocean that surrounds the Pangaea? 3. Why does the scientific community was not entirely convinced by Wegener’s Evidence?  EVIDENCE: THE CONTINENTAL JIGSAW PUZZLE The most visible and fascinating evidence that these continents were once one is their shapes. The edge of one continent surprisingly matches the edge of another.  Look at the map below. It shows how alfred wegener mapped-out the distributions of the four permian and triassic fossil groups and used it as biogeographic evidence for continental drift and Figure 3. Wegener fossils-mapped.png Illustration land bridging. showing similar rock continents. EVIDENCE FROM FOSSILS The Mesosaurus is known to have been a type of reptile, similar to the modern crocodile, which propelled itself through the water with its long hind legs and limber tail. It lived during the early Permian period (286 to 258 million years ago), and its remains are found solely in South Africa and Eastern South Modern-day representation of the Mesosaurus. America. EVIDENCE FROM FOSSILS Now, if the continents were still in their present positions, there is no possibility that the Mesosaurus would have the capability to swim across such a large body of ocean like the Atlantic because it was a coastal animal. Modern-day representation of the Mesosaurus. EVIDENCE FROM FOSSILS The now extinct Cynognathus was a mammal-like reptile. Roaming the terrains during the Triassic period (250 to 240 million years ago), the Cynognathus was as large as a modern wolf. Its fossils are found only in South Africa and South America. As a dominant land species, the Cynognathus would not have been Modern-day representation of the Cynognathus. capable of migrating across the Atlantic. EVIDENCE FROM FOSSILS The Lystrosaurus, which translates to "shovel reptile," is thought to have been a herbivore with a stout built like a pig. Lystrosaurus fossils are only found in Antarctica, India, and South Africa. Similar to the land-dwelling Cynognathus, the Lystrosaurus Modern-day representation of the Lystrosaurus. would not have had the swimming capability to traverse any ocean EVIDENCE FROM FOSSILS Possibly the most important fossil evidence found in the plant, Glossopteris. The Glossopteris fossil is found in Australia, Antarctica, India, South Africa, and South America—all the southern continents. Modern-day representation of the Glossopteris. EVIDENCE FROM FOSSILS Glossopteris seed is known to be large and bulky and possibly could not have drifted or flown across the oceans to a separate continent. Therefore, the continents must have been joined at least one point in time in order to maintain the Glossopteris' wide range across the 260 million years old fossilized leaves of glossopteris southern continents. Description Showing The Fossil Locations Of The Mesosaurus, Cynognathus, Lystrosaurus, And Glossopteris Spread Across Different Continents.  ACTIVITY 4: A JOURNEY FROM THE PAST TO THE FUTURE! Let's find out: What is the evidence of the Continental Drift Theory? Let's use these materials: photocopy of the seven continents, blank globe map, pair of scissors, and world map. 1. Use a separate clean paper to write your answers and observation in this activity. 2. Look carefully at the continents on a globe or a world map. 3. Cut out carefully the picture of the landmasses. These cutout-landmasses represent the continents and some of the large islands of the Earth a hundred million years ago. (Note: Before forming "Pangaea," try to place each landmass cut out on top of the present-day World Map to familiarize yourself about the name of each continent and imagine how it drifted to its present location.) In the drawn circle in a separate sheet, construct the supercontinent using the legends as your basis. (Note: Consider the possible location and position of each continent based on the legends before pasting it in the blank globe map.)  ACTIVITY 4: A JOURNEY FROM THE PAST TO THE FUTURE! Answer the following questions: Q1. Do the Glossopteris fossils tell us all landmasses were once joined together? Q2. If Glossopteris fossils were found in Antarctica, what was the climate of this continent before? Q3. If the climate and the position of a place were relative to each other, where then was the initial location of Antarctica 250 million years ago? Q4. Is the presence of animal fossils tells that South America, Africa, and Antarctica were once connected? Examine the giant landmass "Pangaea" and answer the questions below: Q5. What clues are useful in reconstructing Pangaea? Q6. Which continents were obviously neighbors before? Q7. Where do you think was the location of the Philippines in Pangaea during the time when it existed? (Note: Recall the lesson on Convergent Plate Boundaries: Oceanic vs. Oceanic Crust) Now move one continent relative to its current location. Observe the direction of its motion carefully as it assumes its current location and position. Do the same procedure on the other continents. Q8. If the continents will continue to move, try to predict the Philippines' location 25 million years from now. Possible Cause of Plate Movements Possible Cause of Plate Movements Lesson 2: Evidence of Plate Movements: Seafloor Spreading Theory WHAT’S IN!!! You learned from Lesson 1 about the Continental Drift Theory that all continents were once connected into a big landmass called Pangaea, and this was supported by the pieces of evidence gathered by Alfred Lothar Wegener; however, questions such as what causes the continents to move was not logically answered by the theory. In this lesson, you will learn about the Seafloor Spreading Theory that will strongly support the idea that continents are drifting and find out the site of origin of plate movements. WHAT’S NEW!!!  The idea of continental drift circulated in scientific circles until World War II, when sounding gear called SONAR produced new evidence of what the seafloor looked like. The gear, developed in the 1930s, bounced sound waves off the seafloor to determine its SONAR beam to navigate and map out depth and features. the seafloor