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Continental Drift

Continental Drift. 12.1. The continents of the world have not always been in the same place. Continental Drift Theory. Alfred Wegener... “ The continents have “drifted” to their present locations over millions of years”. They were once joined as a “ supercontinent ” ( Pangaea ).

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Continental Drift

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  1. Continental Drift 12.1

  2. The continents of the world have not always been in the same place....

  3. Continental Drift Theory • Alfred Wegener... • “The continents have “drifted” to their present locations over millions of years”. • They were once joined as a “supercontinent” (Pangaea)

  4. Pan - gaea“all” “Earth”

  5. Putting the Pieces Together... • The continents do not fit “perfectly” like a jigsaw puzzle. • A better fit is found by matching the continental shelves (original shorelines that are now underwater)

  6. Geological/ Rock Evidence • Mountain ranges of one continent, end at coastline  begin again at another continent (similar folds, ages)

  7. Geological/ Rock Evidence • Similarities between rocks of adjacent continents are evidence for continental drift. • The rocks found in Newfoundland are the same type and age as rocks found in Greenland, Ireland, Scotland, Norway.

  8. Fossil Evidence • The fossils of some ancient species suggests evidence for ‘pangaea’. • Wegener found fossils of a fresh-water reptile ‘Mesosaurus’ in two places: - SE South America and SW Africa

  9. 6000 km open ocean ! This small freshwater reptile could not have swam this distance.

  10. Fossil Evidence • Glossopteris (a fern) Found In: South America Africa Australia India Antarctica

  11. Fossil Evidence • Problem: Ferns do not grow in cold climates (Antarctica)

  12. Glacial Evidence • Evidence of glaciers formed in ice ages provides support to CD theory • During ice ages, glaciers covered large areas of land

  13. When the glaciers retreat/ advance, they leave behind proof • Deeply scratched rocks (striations), U-shaped valleys, patterns of rock formations “Paleoglaciation”

  14. More Evidence • Coal Deposits in Antarctica • Coal forms from dead matter (usually tropical swamp material) • Since the South Pole has never had a tropical climate....it must have been in a warmer location than it is now

  15. How the Continents Moved • The current theory is that the continents moved due to the movement of tectonic plates. Tectonic plates = movable slabs of rock that make up the Earth

  16. Tectonic Plates • These large rigid plates slide over the surface of Earth (over a layer of partially molten rock) magma partially molten surface • Tectonic plates explain the location of volcanoes and earthquakes....

  17. Volcanoes/ Earthquakes Volcanoes are openings in the Earth’s surface that spew gases, chunks of molten rock Earthquakes are sudden, ground-shaking releases of built up energy under Earth’s surface

  18. Earthquake zones and volcanoes follow a pattern.... They occur along the boundaries (edges) of tectonic plates (form an outline)

  19. Mid-Atlantic Ridge • Mapping of the ocean floor revealed a long mountain range running down the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. • It is called the “Mid-Atlantic Ridge”

  20. How it was formed... • The tectonic plates of the Earth slide apart (sliding is called “conduction”) • Another way to think of this is “seafloor spreading” • Something must replenish this lost crust! Occurs at rate of ~ 1 inch /yr

  21. Magma to the Rescue!!!! • Areas of oceanic crust are replenished by volcanic activity.... • Magma (molten rock) rises up • Cools and hardens when it reaches surface • Forms the new sea floor

  22. Magma and More Magma • This process keeps going..... • Convection currents cause more magma to rise • Magma forces apart hardened material • Older rock is pushed aside as new rock forms! “Sea Floor Spreading”

  23. An animation.... Spreading Ridge

  24. Proof of Sea Floor Spreading! • In the 1940’s...oceanographers took samples of rock from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge - Younger rocks were found closer to ridge - Older rocks were found farther from ridge (and in thicker layers...built up!)

  25. More evidence in the rocks!! • Scientists have also found that the rocks themselves have a “striped pattern” • To understand this, we must understand the Earth’s magnetism....

  26. Earth’s Magnetic Field N geographic Pole S geographic Pole Every few thousand years....the direction of magnetic field REVERSES! “MAGNETIC REVERSAL”

  27. Consider a rock..... Rock contains metals like iron (Fe) Little pieces of iron “line up” with magnetic field and then they STAY that WAY! When MAGNETIC REVERSAL happens...they line up in opposite direction! Rocks “preserve” the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field that existed when the rock formed! Amazing!

  28. Studying the magnetic properties of ancient rocks.... “Paleomagnetism”

  29. Back to the Sea Floor.... Normal magnetic polarity • So the sea floor is spreading and new rocks (from magma) are formed... • Looking closely at the sea floor, scientists found a striped pattern! Reverse magnetic polarity “magnetic striping”

  30. What is a HOT SPOT?

  31. What is a HOT SPOT?

  32. A HOT SPOT.... • A geological area where molten rock rises to Earth’s surface!

  33. HOT SPOTS.... Hawaiian Islands were formed by a tectonic plate passing over a hot spot. The plate slides in the direction of the arrow.... Forms a CHAIN of islands!

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