What kind of observational evidence did Alfred Wegener use to propose his theory of continental drift and the idea that the continents were once connected as the single landmass, Pangaea?
In a lecture in 1912, Alfred Wegener, a busy German meteorologist and polar explorer, proposed a startling and original theory, continental drift. Wegener suggested that all Earth's land had once been joined into a single supercontinent surrounded by an ocean. He called the landmass Pangaea (pan, "all"; gaea, "Earth, land") and the surrounding ocean Panthalassa (pan, "all"; thalassa, "ocean"). Wegener thought Pangaea had broken into pieces about 200 million years ago. Since then, he said, the pieces had moved to their present positions and were still moving.
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Of course, Wegener's evidence included the apparent shoreline fit of continents across the North and South Atlantic, but he also commented on the alignment of mountain ranges of similar age, composition, and structure on both sides of the Atlantic. He pointed to the discovery of coal and the fossilized remains of tropical plants in frigid Antarctica, and even the similarities of fossils found across separated continents.
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Why was Alfred Wegener's idea of continental drift dismissed?
A) Someone else had already introduced his idea to the scientific community. B) Many of his evidences did not support drifting continents. C) Continents have not moved since Earth was created. D) The evidence at the time seemed to suggest a solid mantle that did not allow drifting of continents to be possible.
After the easily removed portion of a natural resource (e.g., coal) has been taken, the cost of removal goes up with each additional unit of the resource taken. This is called the marginal cost.
Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)
On this map, identify which letter is over the Pacific Ocean.
A. A B. B C. C D. D E. Feature is not labeled.
In Latin America from 1600 to 1900 the vast majority of families lived on farms, people were very poor, and many were malnourished. The next stage of demographic transition should be followed by a period where ________
A) population growth rates declined as people lived longer and were more wealthy, well-nourished and educated B) improved economic conditions relieve food shortages, health care and the death rate declines C) clean water, less disease, and higher literacy contributed to lower birth rates D) yellow fever and malaria are widespread and the survival ages is less than 30 years old E) the population stabilizes and the movement toward zero population growth continues