Alfred's Theory
the scientist who first prompted the idea of continental drift
Alfred Wegener
what evidence did they collect to show the continents were once connected
similar rock layers and fossils
this underwater feature supports the ideas of continental drift
mid-ocean ridge
the type of boundary where plates move apart
divergent boundary
the outer layer of earth made from plates
lithosphere
What was the super continent called that Alfred believed was the original state of earth
Pangaea
fossils of an extinct reptile in found in south American and Africa
mesosaurus
magnetic stripes show that earths magnetic field has done what over time
flipped
the boundary where plates move toward each other
convergent boundary
the word used to describe the slow movements of continents over time
drift
what was Wegeners theory about moving continents called
continental drift
where did they think was warmer due to the kinds of fossils found on it
Antarctica
what process forms new ocean floor from ridges
seafloor spreading
type of boundary where plates slide past one another
transform boundary
large cracks between tectonic plates
faults
what layer do the continents move on top of
mantle or asthenosphere
which separate continent had similar mountain ranges to north america
Europe
what can be found near trenches where crust sinks into the mantle
subduction
mountains form on top of these types of boundaries
convergent boundaries
this modern technology helps track plate movement
gps
what was the main reason scientists rejected Wegeners theory
he couldn't explain how the continents moved
what kind of plant fossil was found across several continents to help prove they were once connected
glossopteris
large plates that "float" on top of a layer of the mantel
tectonic plates
earthquakes happen along this kind of plate boundary
transform boundary
what made the continental drift theory real
tectonic plates