Continental Drift - Alfred Wegener first proposed in 1912

Pangaea one large continent existed

200 million years ago
Panthalassa one large ocean
Noted puzzle-like fit of modern continents
Objections to Early Continental Drift Model
Hostile criticism and open ridicule
Continents cannot plow through ocean basins
Tidal gravitational attractions too small

The Continental Jigsaw Puzzle

The edge of one continent surprisingly matches the edge of another: South America and Africa fit together; India, Antarctica,
and Australia match one another; Eurasia and North America complete the whole continental puzzle in the north.

Evidence from Fossils

Fossils are preserved remains or traces of organisms (plants and animals) from the remote past. Fossilized leaves of an
extinct plant Glossopteris were found in 250 million years old rocks. These fossils were located in the continents of Southern
Africa, Australia, India, and Antarctica, which are now separated from each other by wide oceans. The large seeds of this
plant could not possibly travel a long journey by the wind or survive a rough ride through ocean waves.

Mesosaurus and Lystosaurus are freshwater reptiles. Fossils of these animals were discovered in different continents, such
as in South America and Africa.

Coal Deposits
Coal beds were formed from the compaction and decomposition of swamp plants that lived million years ago. These were
discovered in South America, Africa, Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and even in Antarctica. How is a coal bed
formation possible in Antarctica?

Seafloor Spreading Theory:

He wasnt able to explain how this drifting took place. This made scientists conduct further studies in search for the answer.

Findings that support Seafloor Spreading Theory:

1. Rocks are younger at the mid-ocean ridge.
2. Rocks far from the mid-ocean ridge are older.
3. Sediments are thinner at the ridge.
4. Rocks at the ocean floor are younger than those at the continents.

Magnetic Reversal
A magnetic compass tells us directions on Earth. It also proves that the
Earth has a magnetic field. The needle of a magnetic compass usually points to the North Pole of the Earth which is actually
the South Magnetic Pole at present.
Convection Current
As a substance like water is heated, the less dense particles rise while denser particles sink. Once the hot less dense particles
cool down, they sink, and the other less dense particles rise. This continuous process is called convection current.