Continental Drift

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Discussion1

Movement of Continents2

Scientific developmental theory and the continental drift theory3

Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift3

Plate Tectonics and Natural Landforms4

Conclusion5

References6

The Theory of Continental Drift

Introduction

The theory of Continental Drift was proposed by the German geologist and the meteorologist Alfred Wegener in the year 1912. This theory states the movement of the continents slowly and gradually across the surface of the earth as well as the positions that are changing in relation to one another and to the poles of earth through geological time. Moreover, according to this theory, all the continents were formerly one large continent after it broken apart and drifted through the ocean where they are situated now.

Discussion

Following are some of the evidences that were collected in the last part of the twentieth century for supporting the theory of continental drift.

Geographic correlation in South America's and Africa's coastline perimeters is one of the evidences brought together in the very last part of the 20th century. In this evidence, Wegener made use of jigsaw puzzle fit among the South American and African coastlines.

The similar mountain range and sequences are the proof of the continental drift. This evidence has been found in the North America Appalachian Mountain Range. This shows that the continents were not separated previously as the proofs are present in terms of rocks of similar ages and features. For instance, the range of North Mountains was seemed to be stopped at the island of Newfoundland but on the other hand, the very similar mountain range which contains the similar type of rock appears to be presented in Greenland, Norway and Ireland. This shows that the continents were not separated, but there was only one large continent in the past.

The third proof is the fossil evidence which is from the ancient life. It is found that fossil evidence was found to cause the continental drift as they are found to be many identical fossilized plants and animal species in many different areas in continents. This also denies the fact of different continents as it is hard to believe that how can such similar organisms were existed far away. This gives a proof of a single continent where all the species lived altogether.

Movement of Continents

The reason of not accepting the theory of continental drift by some of the scientists is that the Wegener was not a scientist. He did not have any type of experience in the subject geology. He presented his own thoughts without evidences. Soon after, he passed away in the year 1930 before the conclusion on his theory was not granted by the other geologists. Hence, after some time, this theory of continental drift vanished in the darkness. Therefore, in the 1960's, this theory was termed as plate tectonics. Consequently, there are no issues and crisis to the ideas and views of Wegener at the moment. All of the geologists believe that Wegener's theory is actually the foundation as a result of which all contemporary Earth science is based.

Some of the scientists consider that there is ...