Becky Dobosy May 2005Becky Dobosy May 2005

Continental DriftContinental Drift

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Alfred Wegener

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Alfred WegenerAlfred Wegener

Continental Drift

Becky Dobosy May 2005Becky Dobosy May 2005

Alfred Wegener

•Born in Berlin, Germany, Nov. 1, 1880.

• Meteorologist and geophysicist.

•Born in Berlin, Germany, Nov. 1, 1880.

• Meteorologist and geophysicist.

Alfred WegenerAlfred Wegener

•Discovered continental drift

•Originated theory of Pangaea

•Died Nov. 1, 1930

•Discovered continental drift

•Originated theory of Pangaea

•Died Nov. 1, 1930

Alfred’s TheoryWegener believed the earth was made up of moving plates. Originally, all the continents were combined into one called Pangaea.

Wegener believed the earth was made up of moving plates. Originally, all the continents were combined into one called Pangaea.

Early PangaeaThe animals and plants could disperse with all the future continents together. The one ocean was the Panthalasia.

The animals and plants could disperse with all the future continents together. The one ocean was the Panthalasia.

Later PangaeaPangaea broke into Lausasia and Gondwanaland and trapped animals on one or the other.

Pangaea broke into Lausasia and Gondwanaland and trapped animals on one or the other.

TodayThis is the current map of our

world after about 200 million years of continental drift.

This is the current map of our world after about 200 million years of continental drift.

The Future?Some scientists’ view of the

continents in a million years.Some scientists’ view of the

continents in a million years.

Acceptance of the Theory

Wegener’s theory wasn’t accepted until the discovery of sea floor spreading.

Wegener’s theory wasn’t accepted until the discovery of sea floor spreading.

The spreading is caused by liquid mantle coming up and cooling to form new ground. This creates and ocean trenches and ridges, like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

The spreading is caused by liquid mantle coming up and cooling to form new ground. This creates and ocean trenches and ridges, like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

It also causes the Atlantic Ocean to expand and the Pacific to

shrink.

It also causes the Atlantic Ocean to expand and the Pacific to

shrink.

Fossil Proof

The same fossils can be found on different continents spread miles apart.

The same fossils can be found on different continents spread miles apart.

When the continents are in Pangaea’s shape,the fossil areas

match up.

When the continents are in Pangaea’s shape,the fossil areas

match up.

Lithocology Proof

Lithocology is the study of the distribution of major geological bodies such as mountains and seas.

Lithocology is the study of the distribution of major geological bodies such as mountains and seas.

Mountains ranges and rock bases match with the other Pangaea continents where they broke off.

Mountains ranges and rock bases match with the other Pangaea continents where they broke off.

Palemagnetism Proof

Particles in cooling rocks point to the north pole due to the Earth’s

magnetism.

Particles in cooling rocks point to the north pole due to the Earth’s

magnetism.

North Pole

North Pole

EarthEarthMagnetic Magnetic attractionattractionMagnetic Magnetic attractionattraction

Palemagnetism cont.

After drifting, the rock’s magnetic particles no longer point North.

After drifting, the rock’s magnetic particles no longer point North.

Palemagnetism cont.

From the direction the particles are pointing, we can tell where the rock

originally was in Pangaea.

From the direction the particles are pointing, we can tell where the rock

originally was in Pangaea.

Tectonic Plates

There are 30 plates that make up our Earth.

There are 30 plates that make up our Earth.

Divergent Boundaries•Usually on ocean floor

•Creates sea floor spreading

•Usually on ocean floor

•Creates sea floor spreading

•Make ocean ridges and earthquakes

•Make ocean ridges and earthquakes

Divergent Examples

Great Rift Valley - land fault

Great Rift Valley - land fault

Mid-Atlantic Ridge - ocean

fault

Mid-Atlantic Ridge - ocean

fault

Convergent Boundaries•Edge of plate sinks

under neighbor

•Called subduction

•Makes biggest earthquakes

•Edge of plate sinks under neighbor

•Called subduction

•Makes biggest earthquakes

ExamplesHimalayas - land plates combining and growing

Himalayas - land plates combining and growing

California Coast - land

plate growing

Chile Coast - shrinking from subduction

California Coast - land

plate growing

Chile Coast - shrinking from subduction

•Plates slide horizontally

•Rough edges rub together

•Plates slide horizontally

•Rough edges rub together

•Cause frequent earthquakes

•Cause frequent earthquakes

Transforming Boundaries

Bam Fault in Iran

Bam Fault in Iran

San Andreas Fault in

Cailifornia

San Andreas Fault in

Cailifornia

Transforming Fault Examples

Earth QuakesEarth Quakes

Earth quakes (red) occur on the fault lines (yellow) of certain plates.

Earth quakes (red) occur on the fault lines (yellow) of certain plates.

Folded MountainsFolded Mountains

•Wavy layers where plates collide

•Rock piles up

•Examples: Himalayas, Alps, Rockys, Andes

•Wavy layers where plates collide

•Rock piles up

•Examples: Himalayas, Alps, Rockys, Andes

Fault Block MountainsFault Block Mountains

•One side of fault goes up, the other down

•Example: Sierra Nevadas

•One side of fault goes up, the other down

•Example: Sierra Nevadas

•Plates pull apart•Plates pull apart

Grand TetonsGrand Tetons

Volcanic Mountains

Mt EtnaMt

EtnaBeforeBefore AfterAfter

•On edges on hot spots of plates

•On edges on hot spots of plates

Examples:

•Hawaii - volcanic islands

•Yellowstone - underground volcano

Examples:

•Hawaii - volcanic islands

•Yellowstone - underground volcano

Me Hey, my name is

Becky. I live with my parents and have two older

sisters.

Hey, my name is Becky. I live with my parents and have two older

sisters.

I also have a guinea pig named Chloe. I love the

mountains and being outside.

I also have a guinea pig named Chloe. I love the

mountains and being outside.

Bibliography“Alfred Wegener.” Scientists: The Lives and Works. 1996 ed.

George, Linda. Plate Tectonics. San Diego: Kid Haven Press, 2003.

“Plate Tectonics.” World Book. 2003 ed.

A Lesson in Plate Tectonics. 2005. Extreme Science. 2 May, 2005. <http://extremesc

ience.com/PlateTectonicsmap.htm>

“Alfred Wegener.” Scientists: The Lives and Works. 1996 ed.

George, Linda. Plate Tectonics. San Diego: Kid Haven Press, 2003.

“Plate Tectonics.” World Book. 2003 ed.

A Lesson in Plate Tectonics. 2005. Extreme Science. 2 May, 2005. <http://extremesc

ience.com/PlateTectonicsmap.htm>