History of Continental Drift Theory and Plate

Tectonic Theory

By; Oira, Rojan Paul D.

Ponce, Charity Hope O.

WORLD MAP

Alfred WegenerIn 1910, Wegener formed

a hypothesis which stated all the continents were once joined together in a giant landmass.

He named this landmass “PANGAEA”

German geophysicist and meteorologist

Evidence of CONTINENTAL DRIFT

Wgener’s mechanism for continental driftEarth created a centrifugal force towards the

equator“Pole-fleeing force“- Pangaea originated near

the south pole and that the centrifugal force of the planet caused the protocontinent to break apart and the resultant continents to drift towards the equator.

Driving the driftRotation of the Earth is INSUFFICIENT to

move continents.

WEGENER’S INABILITY to provide an adequate explanation of the forces responsible for continental drift and the prevailing belief that the earth was solid and immovable resulted in the scientific DISMISSAL OF HIS THEORY.

Harry Hess Seafloor spreading was

proposed as a mechanism to drive the movement of the continents on the basis of symmetrical patterns of reversed and normal magnetic rocks on the sea floor