Term
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Definition
Some truly revolutionary scientific theories may take
years or decades to win general acceptance among
scientists. This is certainly true of plate tectonics, one
of the most important and far-ranging geological
theories of all time; when first proposed, it was
ridiculed, but steadily accumulating evidence finally
prompted its acceptance, with immense
consequences for geology, geophysics,
oceanography, and paleontology. |
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Term
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Definition
He first presented his hypothesis in 1912. In 1915, he
published “The Origin of Continents and Oceans,
”
which contained his theory on continental drift |
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Term
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Definition
A ground-breaking hypothesis that explained how continents move across the
surface of the Earth.
Decades later, parts of Wegener's theories were validated by scientists and
are now a part of the well recognized theory of plate tectonics. |
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Term
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Definition
The concept of shifting continents was first presented to geoscience by
Wegener's continental drift theory.
He suggested that before fragmenting into multiple distinct continents, Earth
must have been a single supercontinent |
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Term
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Definition
This clarified how fossilized plants and animals as well as comparable rock
formations could coexist on different continents.
In accordance with Wegener's theory, modern science acknowledges that the
ancient supercontinent Pangaea existed before disintegrating some 200
million years ago. |
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Term
| Jigsaw Fit, Geological Fit, and Tectonic Fit |
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Definition
| Proof of Continental Drift Theory |
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Term
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Definition
More evidence comes from glacial striations – scratches on the bedrock made by blocks of
rock embedded in the ice as the glacier moves. These show the direction of the glacier,
and suggest the ice flowed from a single central point. |
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Term
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Definition
Wegener suggested that
although the species had
coexisted, the lands had
separated once they had
died and turned into _____ |
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Term
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Definition
Wegener proposed that all continents
were once part of a single landmass or
supercontinent called the _____ |
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Term
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Definition
emerged as evidence supporting Wegener’s theory long after
his time. It refers to the study of the Earth's magnetic field as recorded in rock |
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Term
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Definition
Paleomagnetic studies revealed that the Earth's magnetic
poles have reversed many times. These patterns, seen in rocks on either side of
mid-ocean ridges, show symmetrical magnetic striping, providing evidence for
seafloor spreading. |
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Term
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Definition
Studies of ancient magnetic fields suggested continents have
moved over time, supporting the idea of continental drift. That polarwandering curves for different continents do not agree was one of the first
important evidences for continental drift (the large-scale movements of
continents and ocean basins relative to one another over geologic time). |
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