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Unit 3: Plate Tectonics

Unit 3: Plate Tectonics. AIM: What evidence did Wegener have for Continental Drift?. What is Continental Drift?. Continental Drift: all of the continents were once joined together in a single landmass, and have since drifted apart.

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Unit 3: Plate Tectonics

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  1. Unit 3: Plate Tectonics AIM: What evidence did Wegener have for Continental Drift?

  2. What is Continental Drift? • Continental Drift: all of the continents were once joined together in a single landmass, and have since drifted apart. • This hypothesis was created by a young German scientist, Alfred Wegener, in 1910.

  3. What is Continental Drift? • According to Wegener, the continents drifted together to form the supercontinent, Pangaea. • Pangaea existed about 300 million years ago.

  4. Evidence of Continental Drift • Fit of the continents: coastlines fit together like puzzle pieces.

  5. Evidence of Continental Drift 2. Plant and Animal Fossils: certain fossils can be found in places now separated by oceans.

  6. The reptile Mesosaurus swam in the freshwaters of Pangaea 260 million years ago. Today, its fossils are only found in Africa and South America.

  7. Evidence of Continental Drift 3. Land features: mountain ranges on different continents line up when placed together.

  8. Evidence of Continental Drift 4. Climate: Tropical plant and animal fossils are found near the poles, and evidence of glaciers is found in warm regions.

  9. Why was Wegener’s hypothesis rejected? • Wegener could not provide a good explanation for WHY the continents would move.

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