How do coastlines support the idea of continental drift?
One type of evidence that strongly supported the Theory of Continental Drift is the fossil record. Fossils of similar types of plants and animals in rocks of a similar age have been found on the shores of different continents suggesting that the continents were once joined.
How did continental Fit support the continental drift theory?
In the early part of the 20th century, scientists began to put together evidence that the continents could move around on Earth's surface. The evidence for continental drift included the fit of the continents; the distribution of ancient fossils, rocks, and mountain ranges; and the locations of ancient climatic zones.
What evidence supports the continental drift theory?
The four pieces of evidence for the continental drift include continents fitting together like a puzzle, scattering ancient fossils, rocks, mountain ranges, and the old climatic zones' locations.
How are coastlines evidence of plate tectonics?
Modern continents hold clues to their distant past. Evidence from fossils, glaciers, and complementary coastlines helps reveal how the plates once fit together. Fossils tell us when and where plants and animals once existed. Some life "rode" on diverging plates, became isolated, and evolved into new species.
Why do coastlines of continents almost fit together?
The theory of continental drift is most associated with the scientist Alfred Wegener. In the early 20th century, Wegener published a paper explaining his theory that the continental landmasses were “drifting” across the Earth, sometimes plowing through oceans and into each other.
How did the continents fit together?
About 200 million years ago, all the continents on Earth were actually one huge "supercontinent" surrounded by one enormous ocean. This gigantic continent, called Pangaea , slowly broke apart and spread out to form the continents we know today. All Earth's continents were once combined in one supercontinent, Pangaea.
What is Wegener’s theory of continental drift?
Wegener's continental drift theory introduced the idea of moving continents to geoscience. He proposed that Earth (opens in new tab) must have once been a single supercontinent before breaking up to form several different continents.
Which statement best supports the theory of continental drift?
One type of evidence that strongly supported the Theory of Continental Drift is the fossil record. Fossils of similar types of plants and animals in rocks of a similar age have been found on the shores of different continents, suggesting that the continents were once joined.
What is the evidence for continental drift quizlet?
Fossils of same creature have been found on different continents that are separated today but were once joined. For example. a 20 cm Mesosaurus reptile could not have swam 3000 miles across and ocean. It's more likely the continents were together and over 40 million years it walked.
Why do coastlines exhibit such forms?
Waves, tides, and currents help create coastlines. When waves crash onto shore, they wear away at, or erode, the land. But they also leave behind little parts of the sea, such as shells, sand dollars, seaweeds, and hermit crabs. Sometimes these objects end up as more permanent parts of the coastline.
What matching evidence did Wegener discover along the coasts of these continents?
Wegener knew that fossil plants and animals such as mesosaurs (opens in new tab), a freshwater reptile found only in South America and Africa during the Permian period, could be found on many continents. He also matched up rock formations on either side of the Atlantic Ocean like puzzle pieces.
What is continental drift and how does it work?
continental drift, large-scale horizontal movements of continents relative to one another and to the ocean basins during one or more episodes of geologic time. This concept was an important precursor to the development of the theory of plate tectonics, which incorporates it.
What caused the continents to move?
The movement of these tectonic plates is likely caused by convection currents in the molten rock in Earth's mantle below the crust. Earthquakes and volcanoes are the short-term results of this tectonic movement. The long-term result of plate tectonics is the movement of entire continents over millions of years (Fig.
What statement best supports the theory that all the continents were once a single landmass?
Which statement best supports the theory that all the continents were once a single landmass? Rock and fossil correlation can be made where the continents appear to fit together. Which statement best supports the theory of continental drift? The present continents appear to fit together as pieces of a larger landmass.
What supports Wegener’s theory of continental drift quizlet?
The Theory of Continental Drift was proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. He used several pieces of evidence to support his theory including fossils, rocks, glacial markings, coal deposits and the fact that the continents fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. .
What evidence did Wegener find for Pangaea quizlet?
Wegener showed that certain types of rocks on the continents would match with others in another continent. What did Wegener realize about the oldest rocks on the Afircan and South American continents? That they were connected together when the continents were arranged to form Pangaea.
Why are coastlines important?
Coasts help us understand natural events, such as weather and changing sea levels. During storms, coasts are the first places to be flooded. Some coasts have coastal plains. Coastal plains are pieces of flat, low-lying land that can become visible when sea levels start decreasing.
Why are coastal areas important?
Importance of Coastal Waters Coastal waters support many fish species and provide breeding habitat for 85 percent of U.S. migratory birds. They also provide habitat for many other organisms such as marine mammals, corals, sea turtles, and submerged aquatic vegetation.
How did the continents used to fit together?
About 200 million years ago, all the continents on Earth were actually one huge "supercontinent" surrounded by one enormous ocean. This gigantic continent, called Pangaea , slowly broke apart and spread out to form the continents we know today. All Earth's continents were once combined in one supercontinent, Pangaea.
How is plate tectonics supported by the apparent fit of the continental coastlines?
This apparent fit is due to the fact the continents were once connected, and have since moved apart in what has been called continental drift .
What are two types of evidence that support the moving of the continents?
Modern continents hold clues to their distant past. Evidence from fossils, glaciers, and complementary coastlines helps reveal how the plates once fit together.
What are the 5 evidences of continental drift?
They based their idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence: fit of the continents, paleoclimate indicators, truncated geologic features, and fossils.
Which statement best describes the theory of continental drift?
Q. Which statement best summarizes the theory of continental drift? Only the continents move, traveling slowly over and through Earth's crust.
What geological evidence supports the idea of continental drift quizlet?
Some evidence supporting continental drift is the puzzle-like fit of the continents. Similar fossils have been found on different continents.
What is one piece of evidence that Wegener used to prove continental drift quizlet?
One of Alfred Wegener's pieces of evidence for continental drift was data from the seafloor. Wegener used fossil ferns to suggest that a supercontinent existed about 250 million years ago. Glacial grooves in rocks in Africa suggest that this continent was once located in a much colder place.
What evidence supports Wegener’s continental drift hypothesis quizlet?
The Theory of Continental Drift was proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912. He used several pieces of evidence to support his theory including fossils, rocks, glacial markings, coal deposits and the fact that the continents fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. .
Why did no one believe Wegener’s theory?
The main reason that Wegener's hypothesis was not accepted was because he suggested no mechanism for moving the continents. He thought the force of Earth's spin was sufficient to cause continents to move, but geologists knew that rocks are too strong for this to be true.
What do coastlines provide people?
TOURISM – many tourism resorts are located along the coast due to the activities they can offer tourists, e.g. swimming and sunbathing. FISHING – many people make a living from catching and selling fish. RECREATION – the coast provides opportunities for a range of activities, such as sailing, diving, surfing, etc.
What do coastal areas provide?
Importance of Coastal Waters Coastal waters support many fish species and provide breeding habitat for 85 percent of U.S. migratory birds. They also provide habitat for many other organisms such as marine mammals, corals, sea turtles, and submerged aquatic vegetation.
Why is a coastal location important for urban growth?
Cities in coastal areas require a special interest as they constitute important growth poles and gates to the hinterland as well as centers of economic growth involving human activities such as tourism, transport and fishing and sensitive environments and ecosystems.