Wegener and the Theory of Continental Drift Free Essays

Arranged for Dr. Heather Hauser Shorter University EASC 2060 The Natural World Submitted by Lillie Momon December 6, 2011 Running head: Wegener and the Theory of Continental Drift Alfred Wegener (1880-1930) was a German researcher in the fields of meteorology, stargazing, and topography. He was one of the main researchers to estimate about the mainland float or landmasses moving, which underpins the conviction that the Earth’s mainlands used to be a solitary land mass. We will compose a custom article test on Wegener and the Theory of Continental Drift or on the other hand any comparative point just for you Request Now Wegener called this land mass, â€Å"Pangaea†, on the grounds that the mainlands started to separate, and different parts floated away from each other. As per Wegener, â€Å"the eastern shoreline of Africa and the western shoreline of South America fit together like a bit of jigsaw puzzle, and when you adjust the landmasses at their mainland retires, their fit is even better† [ (Wegener, 2007) ]. At the point when researcher and geologist started to voyager around the globe, it was much progressively clear that Wegener’s hypothesis of mainland float could be conceivable, in light of the fact that researcher had once felt that the landmasses had begun in their places, where they presently lie. Be that as it may, Wegener’s hypothesis started to change the manner in which individuals took a gander at the world. In view of the hypothesis of mainland float, Wegener started to accumulate proof from around the globe from landforms, fossils, and atmosphere and put it in a book titled â€Å"The Origin of Continents and Oceans,† which was distributed in 1915. Wegener’s hypothesis was dismissed in light of the fact that he was unable to give proof on the power that moved the mainlands. Base upon the perusing of, Conceptual Integrated Science, Harry Hess and Robert Dietz, the two researchers thought of a speculation that connected, Wegener’s hypothesis of mainland float, to ocean bottom spreading. The ocean bottom is over and over changing; as new lithosphere frames in mid sea the more seasoned lithosphere is pushed from the edge into a profound sea channel, which makes the landmasses shift† [ (Weil, 1997) ]. As per Dr. Heather Hauser, an educator at Shorter University, in the late nineteen fifties, geologists discovered new proof of mainland float, for example, two rocks coordinating precisely. The two rocks were a similar age, and had the equivalent careful hereditary structure. These two landforms were found in 1958. The area of these stones, were western South America and south eastern Africa. This revelation demonstrates that mainland float has really happened, on the grounds that it is about outlandish for two rocks of a similar kind to turn up on two separate landmasses [ (Hauser, 2011) ]. At that point in 1912, Wegener additionally found a tropical plant on the island of Spitsbergen. This island lies north of Norway in the Atlantic Ocean. Today Spitsbergen is canvassed in ice and has polar atmosphere. This is significant in light of the fact that today no tropical plant can develop in Spitsbergen, since its temperature is excessively cold. Wegener demonstrated that, Spitsbergen was once nearer to the equator. He imagined this was the main conceivable answer for the bizarre revelation. Simultaneously when Spitsbergen was warm and tropical, Africa’s temperature was freezing, however today Africa is known for its hot and tropical atmosphere. A few geologists have reasoned that the temperature was once freezing by finding rocks that are shrouded in profound scratches. These scratches were brought about by mainland icy masses. Today, Africa’s climate is unreasonably mellow for an icy mass to shape. Wegener reasoned that when Pangaea existed, it was nearer toward the South Pole. In view of science investigate, when any mainland moves to either post, their temperature starts to drop. In view of, the entirety of the proof from the landforms, fossils and atmosphere, persuades that mainland float did happened [ (Wagner, 2008) ]. Researcher likewise found specific new water reptile fossils that have been found in Africa and South America. These two landmasses were isolated by the Atlantic Ocean, making it amazingly hard for a similar fossil to be found on to various mainland. Which makes Wegener’s hypothesis increasingly conceivable? Researcher later found a fernlike plant, which had existed around 200 and fifty years prior. Wegener utilized this plant to demonstrate his hypothesis of mainland float could have happened, in light of the fact that this plant was found in numerous areas [ (Wagner, 2008) ]. Additionally dependent on, the proof from the landforms, fossils and atmosphere, drives researcher and geologist the same to accept that mainland float, really occurred. We additionally have our perusing material from, Conceptual Integrated Science and a short narrative film on the earth outside that was appeared in our Science class, the Natural World, which ook set at Shorter University, directed by, Dr. Heather Hauser, which infers that the plate tectonics are the principle powers behind the progressions that occur here on Earth. If we somehow managed to utilize a portion of the clear of plate tectionic,using the limit between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate to delineate only a couple of the entr ancing highlights that are made along these limits. As per the apparent checked on, the earth’s covering is definitely not a strong mass. It is molded progressively like a jigsaw puzzle that is comprised of mainland plates that move around on the mantle. This development happens gradually and huge scope development must be estimated in a large number of years as per Dr. Hauser [ (Hauser, 2011) ]. Wegener’s hypothesis is generally founded on a blend of two primary thoughts: Continental Drift and Sea flooring. Each bit of the riddle slides and granulates past, under, finished, or away from different pieces around it. The limit where the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate meet is called, a concurrent limit. This is the place one plate (The Pacific Plate) moves into and afterward underneath the other one (North America). This makes a ton of crushing, collapsing, pushing, and in any case brutal powers [ (Hewitt, 2007) ]. So consequently, in light of the proof which have been give in reference to the landforms, fossils, atmosphere, ocean bottom spreading, and plate structural forces one to accept, that Alfred Wegener, hypothesis of the mainland float truly did happened and that mainland float will proceed for millions and millions or years, long after people are no more. Hauser, D. H. (2011, November 29). The Natural World. (L. Momon, Interviewer) Hewitt, P. G. (2007). Reasonable Integrated Science. San Francisco: Pearson. Wagner, I. 2008, Aug 11). The Great Continental Drift Mystery. Recovered November 28, 2011, from Yale Educational Curriculum: http://www. yale. edu/ynhti/educational program/units/1991/6/91. 06. 05. x. html Watson, J. (1999, Oct 11). Dynamic Contienents. Recovered November 26, 2011, from http://bars. usgs. gov/gip/dynamic/mainlands. html Wegener, A. (2007). Mainland Drift-An Idea Bef ore Its Time. In P. G. hewitt, Conceptual Integrated Science (pp. 511-517). San Francisco: Pearson. Weil, A. (1997, Mar 6). The Rocky History of an Idea. Recovered November 26, 2011, from Plate Tectonics: http://www. ucmp. berkeley. edu/geography/techist. html Step by step instructions to refer to Wegener and the Theory of Continental Drift, Papers