GEOG 2110L Lecture : PLATE TECTONICS.docx
17 Mar 2014
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** the theory of global dynamics in which the lithosphere is believed to broken into individual pieces or plates that move in response to convection in the upper mantle. *** alfred wegener, a german meteorologist, gave it serious consideration in 1915, and was the first to suggest that continents were moving, and to supply some evidence for it. His theory of continental drift took awhile to be fully accepted by the established scientific community. * evidence: similarities of fossils, climate records, & geologic record between distant countries, esp. Ex: * the land dwelling, mammal-like reptile lystrosaurus, whose fossils have been found in south america, africa, antarctica and asia. * mountain belts of similar age, rock sequence, fossils & structural style appear on both sides of the northern atlantic (appalachians & those of ireland, scotland & norway) * wegener proposed that one landmass existed about 200-225 mybp (triassic-jurassic. This began to split over the next 10-20 million years.
