Continental Drift and Seafloor Spreading

Continental Drift –

Continental Drift is the theory, made by Alfred Wegener, which all the continents were once together to form Pangaea. Pangaea is the super continent that was the combination of all today’s continents. There are three evidences of the Continental Drift.

One evidence is the fossils. Meosauars was a fresh water and land dinosaur that couldn’t live in salt-water let alone swim all over the ocean. The fossils of Meosauars have been found in South America and Africa. How, you may ask. South America and Africa were once together which made it easy for Meosauars to just walk over the land.

Another evidence is the rocks. The mountains in the United States and Europe are in a perfect line. The mountains are also the same age and kind of rock. How? They were once together and formed one mountain range. After the Continents Drifted apart the mountains were pulled apart.

The third evidence is weather. Coal is made up of dead plants that have been pushed under Earth’s weight. We have found coal in places like Antarctica. This tells us the Antarctica was once in a different location. A warmer location, which had lots of plant life.

The last evidence is the shapes of today’s continents. South America and Africa look like they could have once were together. Which by looking at fossils they once were.

Seafloor Spreading –

            Seafloor Spreading is when the seafloor spreads or the seafloor “grows”. Magma from under the earths crust flows up through the seafloor. The new seafloor pushes the old seafloor away. Creating a new seafloor and pushing the old one farer away.

            The first evidence is earth’s magnetic field. Over the years of seafloor spreading the magnetic field has changed over and over again. The seafloor’s minerals tell where the magnetic field pointed. It once was south then north then south again and back to north.

            The second evidence is age of the seafloor. The farther way the seafloor is from the magma the older the seafloor is. The closer the seafloor is the younger the rock is. Great Responses Thank You!