Continental Drift

Theory and
Seafloor Spreading

Topics to be Discussed
What is Continental Drift Theory?
Evidences of Continental Drift Theory
Seafloor Spreading
Evidences of Seafloor Spreading

What is Continental Drift

Theory?
Alfred Wegener
(1910)

What is Continental Drift

Theory?
It is a theory that states that
continents were once large landmass
called Pangaea which drifted away
from each other.

PANGEA

What is Continental Drift

Theory?
It is a theory that
states that continents
were once large
landmass called
Pangaea which
drifted away from
each other.

Evidences of Continental
Drift

Fossils
Rock Layers
Coal Deposits
Puzzle Fit

Evidences of Continental
Drift
Fossils

European Flora

Evidences of Continental
Drift
Fossils

European Flora

Evidences of Continental
Drift
Fossils

European Flora

Glossopteri
s

Evidences of Continental
Drift
Fossils
Mesosaurus

Fossil Remains
Wegener mapped the locations of Fossils of several
species of plants and animals that could not swim.
It will be a long
swim for
Mesosaurus

Evidences of Continental
Drift
Rock
Layers

Evidences of Continental
Drift
Rock Layers

Evidences of Continental
Drift
Coal
Deposit
s

Evidences of Continental
Drift
Puzzle Fit
of the
Continents

Evidences of Continental
Drift
Puzzle Fit
of the
Continents

HAPE OF THE CONTINENT

North America
Africa
South America

North America

Africa
South America

TRIVIA!
Wegener was not the only one to
notice the fit of the continents.
1858: Antonio Pelligrini depicted
Africa and South America
connected.
He was one of the first scientists
to publish maps depicting the
apparent fit of the continents.

Seafloor Spreading Theory

Developed by Harry
Hess and Robert
Dietz

Seafloor Spreading Theory

It states that hot
less dense material
from below the
Earths surface rises
towards the surface
at mid oceanic ridge

Seafloor Spreading Theory

Seafloor Spreading Theory

Seafloor Spreading Theory

Evidences of Seafloor
Spreading
Age of Rocks
Magnetic Reversals

Evidences of Seafloor
Spreading
Age of Rocks
Magnetic Reversals

During subduction, oceanic crust is pushed

against, and finally underneath, continental or
oceanic crust.
Subduction zones are often marked by
overlying chains of volcanic islands called
island arcs.
Seafloor spreading results from convection in
the mantle and lower crust.
11/18/16

During convection, the hotter it is the more plastic

material are brought up towards the surface while
the colder it is the more sediment sink toward
mantle.
Ocean trenches develop over the subduction zone
where subducted plate begins to bend and descend.
Subduction causes contact and friction with the
overlying plate which results in andesitic volcanoes
and earthquakes.
The youngest oceanic crust is formed at the crest of a
mid-oceanic ridge, and the crust becomes older as
they move away from the ridge.
11/18/16