The theory created by scientists that describes the past movements of our continents is called Continental Drift. This theory is supported by plate tectonics, a relatively new idea that explains the constant movement of Earth's crust. Two-hundred million years ago, our seven continents fitted together, as if part of a puzzle. These continents made up one supercontinent, known as Pangea. When Pangea began to disperse into the current continental positions the process of plate tectonics began. The first to notice the fitting of the continents was Sir Francis Bacon, however, Alfred Wegener and Frank Taylor were the first to propose the theory.
Scientists have much information supporting their theories. The fossils of organisms that have been found on two, separate continents suggest that they evolved together on one continent. Also, broad belts of rock and glacial striations have continuous patterns that would only have occurred given the scenario that two continents were connected. There are fossils of tropical plants in areas where it is currently too cold for them to be inhabited. Therefore, the …show more content…
The physical Earth, as does the biological Earth, has an evolving history. The scientific world is clear on the formation of the continents during and after the time of Pangea, however, they are less certain of the location and structure of the continents before then. Some scientists suspect that Earth has had several supercontinents. Plate tectonics will always be at work changing the form of our planet's continents. Within 200 million years, our planet’s continents may look completely unrecognizable. Some day within that future, our continents my be reunited. Consequently, people in the generations to come need to learn to cope with plate tectonics because the Earth will, someday in the future, look noticeably different than it currently
Scientists have much information supporting their theories. The fossils of organisms that have been found on two, separate continents suggest that they evolved together on one continent. Also, broad belts of rock and glacial striations have continuous patterns that would only have occurred given the scenario that two continents were connected. There are fossils of tropical plants in areas where it is currently too cold for them to be inhabited. Therefore, the …show more content…
The physical Earth, as does the biological Earth, has an evolving history. The scientific world is clear on the formation of the continents during and after the time of Pangea, however, they are less certain of the location and structure of the continents before then. Some scientists suspect that Earth has had several supercontinents. Plate tectonics will always be at work changing the form of our planet's continents. Within 200 million years, our planet’s continents may look completely unrecognizable. Some day within that future, our continents my be reunited. Consequently, people in the generations to come need to learn to cope with plate tectonics because the Earth will, someday in the future, look noticeably different than it currently