Examine this map showing the age of the crust in Africa and South America, and the position of ancient mountain belts (areas where mountain ranges used to exist but have since been eroded down to their roots)

This information was not available to Alfred Wegener. Would he find it consistent with the idea of continental drift, or would it prove his idea wrong? Explain.

What will be an ideal response?


Answer: Yes, this map provides evidence in support of continental drift (or plate tectonics). The big pink chunks of Archean-aged rock very clearly run off the edge of one continent and "pick up again" on the other. Ditto for the mountain belts – these are like images on separate puzzle pieces that make more sense once the two pieces are snapped together.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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The dominant wavelength of energy emitted by the Sun is

A) shorter than that emitted by Earth. B) longer than that emitted by Earth. C) the same length as that emitted by Earth.

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At a mid-ocean ridge spreading center, what happens?

a. the plates are moving past each other b. the plates are moving away from each other c. the plates are moving toward each other d. one plate is being subducted beneath another e. both plates are being subducted

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Characteristics of commercial farming in the U.S. include

A) it can be labor intensive. B) more than 10% of the labor force is usually engaged in it. C) more small family farms are involved in it than are large corporate farms. D) it is not easily integrated into other agribusiness production systems. E) its produce is sold for use off the farm.

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Containing elements of both forests and coastal marshes, the swamplands of extreme southern Louisiana would be an example of ________

A) a superbiome B) an abiotic system C) an ecotone D) a dead zone E) a closed ecosystem

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences