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Earth Science

In 1596, mapmaker Abraham Ortelius suggested that continents were once joined together. The Continental Drift Theory, proposed by meteorologist Alfred Wegener in 1915, introduced the concept of a supercontinent called Pangaea. Wegener supported his theory with compelling evidence, including the fit of continents, fossil similarities, matching mountain ranges, and paleoclimatic data. Despite its foundation in solid observations, Wegener's ideas faced criticism during his lifetime due to a lack of explanation for the movement of large landmasses. Discover the evolution of this pivotal theory in earth science.

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Earth Science

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Earth Science Historical IntroductionContinental Drift

  2. What do you notice about the continents?

  3. 1596 – Abraham Ortelius, a mapmaker, suggested the Americas were “torn away from Europe and Africa…by earthquakes and floods”

  4. The Continental Drift Theory • Meteorologist Alfred Wegener • 1915 published “The Origins of Oceans and Continents” • proposed Pangaea

  5. Supercontinent “Pangaea” • Idea based on ‘fit’ of the continents

  6. Wegener’s Evidence • Fossil evidence • Tropical plant fossils in Antarctica • Rock type and structural similarities • Matching mountain ranges on different continents • Paleoclimatic evidence • Glacial deposits in Africa

  7. Fossil Evidence

  8. Criticism of Drift Theory • Theory not accepted in Wegener’s lifetime • He could not explain how such large land masses could be moved Last photo of Wegener before his death in 1930 on a meteorological expedition in Greenland

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