objective you will use the theory of plate tectonics and the changes in the earth’s surface in...
TRANSCRIPT
You will use the theory of plate tectonics and the changes in the earth’s surface in order to explain the evidence for continental drift theory.
What do you know about the theory of plate tectonics?
How do plates move?
Warm-Up:
The theory that the Earth’s Crust and upper mantle (Lithosphere is broken up into 20 MOVING sections called plates.
Greek – “tektonikos” of a builderPieces of the lithosphere that move around
Each plate has a nameFit together like jigsaw puzzlesPlates Float on top of the asthenosphere similar to ice cubes in a bowl of water
“Plates” of lithosphere are moved around by the underlying hot mantle convection current
Hot material rises while, cooler material sinks
Created by the uneven heating of the asthenosphere
“It is only by combing the information furnished by all the earth sciences that we can hope to determine “truth”
here.”
-Alfred Wegener (1880-1930)
http://members.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Continents.shtml
Alfred Wegener 1915Continents were once a single land mass that drifted apart.
Fossils of the same plants and animals are found on different continents
Called this supercontinent Pangea, Greek for “all Land”
Split again – Laurasia & Gondwanaland 180 million years ago
Puzzle FitFossil
Evidence Geological
Evidence Climate
evidence
Some thing to think about:What did Wegener propose as a method of
explaining the close fit of the continents on either side of the Atlantic Ocean?
What was so unusual about the fossil remains of Mesosaurus?
How did clues found in South Africa and Arctic islands support Wegener's theory of continental drift?
Why wasn't Wegener's theory accepted at the time?
Is the Hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single land mass, broke up and drifted to their present locations.
Wegener Evidence: There are 4 pieces:
1. 2. 3. 4.
What evidence did Wegner have that that the continents use to be one large land mass called Pangaea?
How does the movement from Pangaea impact the location of some of the resources we use today? (think of coal and the conditions necessary for it to form)
• Mid-Ocean Ridge : underwater mountain chains that run through the Earth’s Basins
• Magma rises to the surface cools and new crust forms (Basalt)
• Older Crust is pushedfarther away from the ridge
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/understanding.html
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/understanding.html
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/understanding.html & http://www.geology.com
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/understanding.html & http://www.geology.com
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/understanding.html & http://www.geology.com
www.geology.com
Name the 3 main layers of the EarthWhat is a tectonic plate?What was Pangea?What is Sea-Floor spreading?Name the three different types of plate
boundaries and one location on Earth for each one