Download P7 notes as of 12/2

PLATE
TECTONICS
What is the Plate Tectonic Theory? 11/17/16
 plate tectonic theory= plates/pieces of the
lithosphere are constantly moving due to
convection currents in the asthenosphere
 cause of earthquakes, volcanoes, mid ocean
ridges, deep ocean trenches & mountain ranges
 plates move SLOOOOOWLY and constantly
 move 1-24 cm/yr!!!
What evidence proves PT? 11/28/16
(Alfred Wegener and such)
ALFRED WEGENER:
 believed that 300 million yrs ago, there was ONE
landmass he called Pangaea=supercontinent
 published his research in 1915 in The Origins of
Continents and Oceans
 started his research in 1910
 hypothesized that Pangaea split & parts drifted
apart=Continental Drift Hypothesis
 gathered evidence from many scientific fields
 German scientist!
 Studied the atmosphere/ was a meteorologist, not a
geologist
 Died in 1930-froze to death in a blizzard in
Greenland doing what he loved to do-researching
the weather
 Exactly 50 when he died…born in 1880
AW’s evidence that SUGGESTS plate mvmt (HAD)
1) land features:
 continents fit together like puzzle pieces (N/
SA & Africa)
 mtn ranges in E. SA and W. Africa are the
same type of rock & line up perfectly
 coal fields in Europe & NA line up as well
 all this stuff is now separated by an ocean!
2) fossils:
 fossils of the same organisms found on
different continents now separated by oceans
 no way did that fat little dino. swim across an
entire ocean and live to tell about it!
3) climate:

4)