How does the fossil record support the continental drift theory?
Scientists discovered the fossils of many identical-appearing species on widely separated continents. These landmasses were in contact sometime in the past, allowing species to roam freely, die, be buried, and become fossilized across these continents. …
How does the distribution of fossils show continental drift?
There are many examples of fossils found on separate continents and nowhere else, suggesting the continents were once joined. If Continental Drift had not occurred, the alternative explanations would be: The species evolved independently on separate continents – contradicting Darwin’s theory of evolution.
What fossils supported the theory of continental drift?
EVIDENCE FOR CONTINENTAL DRIFT
- Fossils of the seed fern Glossopteris were too heavy to be carried so far by wind.
- Mesosaurus was a swimming reptile but could only swim in fresh water.
- Cynognathus and Lystrosaurus were land reptiles and were unable to swim.
How does coal distribution support the theory of continental drift?
How does coal distribution support the Theory of Continental Drift? Coal normally forms in warm, wet climates. However geologists have found coal under Antarctica’s very cold and dry ice caps.
What is the continental drift theory What are the evidence supporting the same Upsc?
According to the theory, all the continents formed a single continental mass- Pangea and mega ocean- Panthalassa surrounded it. Around 200 million years ago Pangaea started splitting and broke down into two large continental masses as Laurasia and Gondwanaland forming the northern and southern components respectively.
What is the weakness of continental drift theory?
Drawbacks of Continental Drift Theory Forces like buoyancy, tidal currents and gravity are too weak to be able to move continents. Modern theories (Plate Tectonics) accept the existence of Pangaea and related landmasses but give a very different explanation to the causes of drift.
What is continental drift theory explain with evidence?
Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on Earth’s surface. Set forth in 1912 by Alfred Wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also explained why look-alike animal and plant fossils, and similar rock formations, are found on different continents.
What are the evidences supporting the continental drift theory also mention its limitations?
He then gathered an impressive amount of evidence to show that earth’s continents were once connected in a single supercontinent. Thus, proposed in 1912 by Alfred Wegener, continental drift theory explained why similar looking animal and plant fossils and similar rock formations are found on different continents.
What is the concept of seafloor spreading?
Seafloor spreading is a geologic process in which tectonic plates—large slabs of Earth’s lithosphere—split apart from each other. As tectonic plates slowly move away from each other, heat from the mantle’s convection currents makes the crust more plastic and less dense.
Why is it important to study the shape of the seafloor?
Sea floor sediment provide an invaluable key to past climate change. Finely varved sediments from areas of rapid deposition provide a high-resolution record of past climate variation, and volcanic ash layers contribute to the comprehensive study of climate change on relatively short timescales.