Plate Tectonics Introduction
· The Earth’s surface is made up if interlocking plates of various shapes and sizes
o Tectonic plates
o Volcanoes and earthquake fault lines are clues to location
§ These types of activities also found at points of high elevation – uplift
Evidence of Tectonic Plates Shifting
Phenomenon / Explain the phenomenon / How does this help me understand Earth’s past?Animal Fossils / · Animals have been found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean
· Scientists know the animals could not have traveled across the ocean / · Same animal fossils in 2 locations that are very far apart
o Those 2 locations must have been touching in the past
· Since there are Lystrosaurus fossils (found where it is warm) in Antarctica (very cold climate)
o Antarctica used to be in a different location and closer to the equator
Plant Fossils / · Fossils from a green fern have been found in places with really warm or really cold climates)
· Green fern trees grow in areas with calm/mild climates / · Same fossils in many locations that are separated by oceans
o These areas must have been touching in the past
· The leaves would not have traveled that far
Glacial Evidence / · Valleys that were carved by glaciers in the past have been found in very arid (dry) places like Africa / · There is evidence of glaciers in places that are dry
o This tells us that the continents must have moved to different locations
Fit of Continents / · South America and Africa fit together like a puzzle
· Part of North America and Africa fit together like a puzzle / · Since the continents fit together like a puzzle, this is evidence that the continents once formed a supercontinent
Rock Sequences / · Rock sequences in South America and Africa are the same
· There is a huge ocean separating these continents / · Same rock sequence in 2 locations that are far apart
o These 2 continents must have been together in the past
Climate Changes in Antarctica / · Plants are needed to form coal
· Coal has been found in Antarctica (usually not found there)
· Animal fossils have been found in Antarctica that could not survive the cold climate
. / · Coal and animal fossils have been found in Antarctica that would never survive the cold climate
o This tells us that Antarctica has moved