Introduction of Continental Drift and Overview
Continental drift is the theory that the Earth's continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have "drifted" across the ocean bed.
Alfred Wegener
A German polar researcher, geophysicist and meteorologist. During his lifetime he was primarily known for his achievements in meteorology and as a pioneer of polar research, but today he is most remembered as the originator of the theory of continental drift by hypothesizing in 1912 that the continents are slowly drifting around the Earth (German: Kontinentalverschiebung). His hypothesis was controversial and not widely accepted until the 1950s, when numerous discoveries such as palaeomagnetism provided strong support for continental drift, and thereby a substantial basis for today's model of plate tectonics. Wegener was involved in several expeditions to Greenland to study polar air circulation before the existence of the jet stream was accepted. Expedition participants made many meteorological observations and were the first to overwinter on the inland Greenland ice sheet and the first to bore ice cores on a moving Arctic glacier.
Continental drift is the theory that the Earth's continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have "drifted" across the ocean bed.
Alfred Wegener
A German polar researcher, geophysicist and meteorologist. During his lifetime he was primarily known for his achievements in meteorology and as a pioneer of polar research, but today he is most remembered as the originator of the theory of continental drift by hypothesizing in 1912 that the continents are slowly drifting around the Earth (German: Kontinentalverschiebung). His hypothesis was controversial and not widely accepted until the 1950s, when numerous discoveries such as palaeomagnetism provided strong support for continental drift, and thereby a substantial basis for today's model of plate tectonics. Wegener was involved in several expeditions to Greenland to study polar air circulation before the existence of the jet stream was accepted. Expedition participants made many meteorological observations and were the first to overwinter on the inland Greenland ice sheet and the first to bore ice cores on a moving Arctic glacier.
|
|
PowerPoint Video Presentation
PowerPoint
Article
Lab
NASA Mission Holiday Ornament WebQuest
Students will research a NASA Mission and learn about the mission objective, mission start date and end date (if not still active), whether it is a satellite/robotic or a manned mission, the type of rocket used to launch the mission instruments on board, and some highlights of the mission. Students will also produce artwork inspired by the mission.
Students will present their findings to the class.
Students will research a NASA Mission and learn about the mission objective, mission start date and end date (if not still active), whether it is a satellite/robotic or a manned mission, the type of rocket used to launch the mission instruments on board, and some highlights of the mission. Students will also produce artwork inspired by the mission.
Students will present their findings to the class.
Evidence of Plate Tectonic
Modern continents hold clues to their distant past. Evidence from fossils, glaciers, and complementary coastlines helps reveal how the plates once fit together. Fossils tell us when and where plants and animals once existed.
Modern continents hold clues to their distant past. Evidence from fossils, glaciers, and complementary coastlines helps reveal how the plates once fit together. Fossils tell us when and where plants and animals once existed.
|
|
Video PowerPoint
PowerPoint
Mechanism & Plate Boundaries
The difference between continental drift and plate tectonics is that the theory of continental drift states that the world was made up of a single continent.The theory of plate-tectonics, on the other hand, states that earth's surface is broken into numbers of shifting plates or slabs.
The difference between continental drift and plate tectonics is that the theory of continental drift states that the world was made up of a single continent.The theory of plate-tectonics, on the other hand, states that earth's surface is broken into numbers of shifting plates or slabs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Video PowerPoint
PowerPoint
Supercontinents & Global Impacts
The supercontinent cycle affects sea-level changes, initiates periods of global glaciation, changes the global climate from hothouse to icehouse conditions, and influences seawater salinity and nutrient supply. All of these consequences of plate tectonics have profound influences on life on Earth.