How Does The Fossil Record Support The Continental Drift Theory?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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One type of evidence that strongly supported the Theory of Continental Drift is the fossil record. Fossils of similar types of plants and animals in rocks of a similar age have been found on the shores of different continents , suggesting that the continents were once joined.

How does the fossil record support the theory of plate tectonics?

Evidence from fossils, glaciers, and complementary coastlines helps reveal how the plates once fit together. Fossils tell us when and where plants and animals once existed . ... This distribution of fossils led to theories that the southern continents were once joined in a supercontinent called Gondwana.

How does this fossil evidence support Wegener’s theory that the continents were one landmass?

Wegener supported his theory by demonstrating the biological and geological similarities between continents . South America and Africa contain fossils of animals found only on those two continents, with corresponding geographic ranges.

Which fossil evidence supports the idea of Continental Drift check all that apply?

Fossils of Glossopteris

What are 5 pieces of evidence that support continental drift?

The evidence for continental drift included the fit of the continents; the distribution of ancient fossils, rocks, and mountain ranges; and the locations of ancient climatic zones .

What are the 4 evidences of continental drift?

They based their idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence: fit of the continents, paleoclimate indicators, truncated geologic features, and fossils .

What are 6 pieces of evidence that support continental drift?

  • Fossils.
  • Continents fit like Puzzle Pieces. Matching fossils preserved in rocks of the same age but found on different continents. Ex. ...
  • Matching Rocks. Puzzle – like fit of continental shelves. Ex. ...
  • Mountain Ranges.
  • Glacier Striations.
  • Coal Beds.

Why was the continental drift theory rejected?

This idea was quickly rejected by the scientific community primarily because the actual forces generated by the rotation of the earth were calculated to be insufficient to move continents .

Which two pieces of fossil evidence support the idea of continental drift quizlet?

How does each fossil support the hypothesis of continental drift? Each fossil supports this idea because they were found on different continents. What three key evidence supports continental drift? Fossil clues, plants, rock clues and climate clues were discovered on the different continents.

What are two pieces of evidence for seafloor spreading?

Several types of evidence from the oceans supported Hess’s theory of sea-floor spreading- evidence from molten material, magnetic stripes, and drilling samples . This evidence also led sci- entists to look again at Wegener’s theory of continental drift.

What does Pangaea mean in Greek?

Pangea was surrounded by a global ocean called Panthalassa, and it was fully assembled by the Early Permian Epoch (some 299 million to 273 million years ago). ... Its name is derived from the Greek pangaia, meaning “all the Earth .”

What is evidence of Pangea?

Glacial deposits, specifically till, of the same age and structure are found on many separate continents that would have been together in the continent of Pangaea. Fossil evidence for Pangaea includes the presence of similar and identical species on continents that are now great distances apart .

What is continental drift theory explain?

Continental drift describes one of the earliest ways geologists thought continents moved over time . ... He called this movement continental drift. Pangaea. Wegener was convinced that all of Earth’s continents were once part of an enormous, single landmass called Pangaea.

Why do tectonic plates move?

The heat from radioactive processes within the planet’s interior causes the plates to move, sometimes toward and sometimes away from each other. This movement is called plate motion, or tectonic shift.

What was the response to Wegener’s hypothesis?

“That was always his response: Just assert it again, even more strongly .” By the time Wegener published the final version of his theory, in 1929, he was certain it would sweep other theories aside and pull together all the accumulating evidence into a unifying vision of the earth’s history.

Which of the following answers is evidence for continental drift except?

Wegener used all the following to provide evidence for continental drift except : age of selected continental rocks .

Emily Lee
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Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.