Drifting

Pangaea was a supercontinent that existed about 300 million years ago. The theory of continental drift suggests that Pangaea split apart over time due to the movement of tectonic plates, leading to the current arrangement of continents. This movement continues today, with the plates shifting slowly across the Earth's surface.

Seafloor spreading and continental drift are both processes associated with plate tectonics. They both involve the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates. Seafloor spreading is the process where new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges, while continental drift is the theory that continents have moved and are still moving over Earth's surface.

The discovery of seafloor spreading and magnetic striping on the ocean floor in the 1960s provided compelling evidence for Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift. This process showed how new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges and helps move the continents apart, supporting the idea that continents are not fixed but can drift over time.

Genetic drift occurs due to random fluctuations in allele frequencies in a population, especially in small populations. It can lead to certain alleles becoming more or less common over time purely by chance, with no selective pressure involved. This process can result in the loss of genetic variation and can have significant effects on the gene pool of a population.

Yes, the case of the Mesosaurus does support Wegener's theory of continental drift because Mesosaurus however were-- as stated very well, A non-pelagic freshwater species from the Permian limited to a narrow range in the south east tip of South America and South Africa. In my opinion we cannot totally rule out "Accidental" ocean going land and freshwater as examples do exist (e.g Central and South American land tortoises to and from Galapagos) but the gravity of the drift theory favors conjoint land else narrow very narrow seaways for which rafting or limited range free swimming could be a mechanism of spreading breeding populations. My point being we can not exclude the possibility of animals being able to cross minor bodies of water because we have more modern examples for which swimming or rafting on debris were plausible. Egrets are a flying example of how species may be distributed across large bodies of water and so aren't perfect evidence. Common egrets were blown over from Africa to South America late in the 1800s in a massive storm system. Through replication and migrations they have reached the Piedmont of the Carolinas , central Alabama-Georgia and western Tennessee.

Genetic drift occurs when random events cause certain alleles to become more or less common in a population. This can happen due to factors like population bottlenecks or the founder effect, where a small group of individuals carries a subset of the genetic diversity of the larger population. Over time, genetic drift can lead to changes in allele frequencies and reduce genetic variation within a population.

Yes, the plate tectonics theory developed from the earlier continental drift theory. The continental drift theory, proposed by Alfred Wegener in the early 20th century, suggested that continents were once joined together and drifted apart. Plate tectonics, developed in the mid-20th century, expanded on this by incorporating the movement of Earth's lithosphere plates and explaining the processes driving continental drift.

1. Fossil similarities across continents.
2. Matching geological formations across continents.
3. Alignment of mountain ranges across continents.
4. Distribution of ancient climates and glacial deposits.

One main objection to Wegner's continental drift hypothesis was the lack of a plausible mechanism to explain how continents could move through solid oceanic crust. At that time, the idea of continental drift contradicted prevailing scientific beliefs about the rigidity of the Earth's crust.

Alfred Wegener used several lines of evidence to support his theory of continental drift, including the fit of the continents like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, similarities in rock formations and fossils across continents, as well as evidence of past glaciation patterns and ancient climate belts that only made sense if the continents were once connected.

divided into rigid plates that float and move on the semi-fluid asthenosphere layer below. These plates interact at their boundaries, leading to various geologic phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain building. This theory explains the dynamic nature of Earth's surface and how continents have moved over millions of years.

Seafloor spreading typically occurs at rates between 2.5 to 10 centimeters per year. However, in some places such as the East Pacific Rise, spreading can happen much faster, up to 15 centimeters per year.

1. Fossil evidence: Similar fossils of ancient plants and animals have been found on continents that are now widely separated, suggesting they were once connected.
2. Rock formation: Matching rock formations and mountain ranges have been found on different continents, implying they were once part of the same landmass.
3. Climate indicators: Evidence such as glacial deposits and coal beds found in regions that don't have similar climates today support the idea that continents were once positioned differently.

The contradiction between continental drift and seafloor spreading is that continental drift theory proposes that continents move horizontally across the Earth's surface due to the movement of tectonic plates, while seafloor spreading theory suggests that new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges and pushes older crust away from the ridge. These two theories were eventually integrated into the theory of plate tectonics.

Wetness data included sediment and rock formations, fossil evidence of past climates and species, and the distribution of certain minerals and rock types across different continents. This evidence supported the theory of continental drift by indicating past connections between landmasses now separated by oceans.

Fossil distribution supports the theory of continental drift by showing similar species of plants and animals that lived on different continents that are now separated by oceans. This suggests that these continents were once joined together and over time drifted apart to their current positions. The presence of identical fossils on continents that are now separated is evidence that they were once part of the same landmass.

Long shore drift is the movement of material along a beach. The material would be washed onto the beach then another wave would pick it up and move it further down. This is how beaches can move along the coast line. This has nothing to do with plate tectonics.

Continental drift is related to plate tectonics. It is the movement of the continents by the plates underneath them and varies from 1cm to 15cm every year.

Millions of years ago the continents were all connected in a super continent called Pangaea until they were pushed apart by the plates underneath them.

Alfred Wegener used climate to support his hypothesis of continental drift by noting that matching plant and animal fossils, as well as rock formations, across continents with similar past climates suggested that these landmasses were once connected. He argued that the distribution of certain geological features and fossils could only be explained by the movement of the continents over time.

There is no difference, they are they same theory about the Earth's crust being divided and moving, they are just two different names that people call it.

Seafloor spreading provides evidence for the theory of continental drift by showing that new oceanic crust is continuously formed at mid-ocean ridges and spreads outward, pushing the continents away from each other. This process accounts for the movement of the continents over time and helps explain how separate landmasses once formed a single supercontinent called Pangaea.

Fossil evidence, such as similar plant and animal species found across distant continents, supports the theory of continental drift. Additionally, matching geological features, like mountain ranges or rock formations, that line up when continents are brought together provide further evidence. Magnetic striping on the ocean floor also points towards seafloor spreading and the movement of continents.

Gene drift tends to be a major factor in evolution in small populations, where random fluctuations can have a larger impact. It is particularly important in cases of genetic bottleneck or founder effect, where a small group establishes a new population with reduced genetic diversity, leading to increased susceptibility to gene drift.

Yes, genetic drift can cause changes in the frequency of genotypes and phenotypes in a population over time. In a small population experiencing genetic drift, certain genotypes and phenotypes may become more common by chance, while others may be lost. This can lead to differences in the distribution of traits between the original and reduced population.

Wegener used similarities in fossil evidence and rock formations across different continents, along with past climatic evidence such as glacial deposits in regions where glaciers no longer exist, to support his hypothesis of continental drift. He argued that these geological and climatic similarities could only be explained by the continents once being connected in a single landmass.

The primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift is plate tectonics. This process is driven by the movement of molten rock in the Earth's mantle, which generates forces that push apart tectonic plates, leading to seafloor spreading and continental drift.