The Continental Drift is defined as the idea that the land masses of the world are gradually moving over a period of time. The land masses were once assembled in one supercontinent which began to break apart at the commencement of the Jurassic period 1 . This theory is referred to as the Plate Tectonic theory. This is because the visible continents, which are a part of the lithospheric plates which they ride on, are slowly shifting due to the forces that are driving the plate tectonics. One of the evidence of this theory is the shape of the continents. One is able to fit the continents like a jigsaw puzzle and form one supercontinent. Africa. South America and Europe continents easily lock in when placed alongside each other. This gives a mental picture of a land mass that was once whole and broke apart due to tectonic forces.
The second evidence is the continuity of mountain ranges and the similarities in fossils that have been found along the boundaries of continents. Alfred Wenger who made this discovery found evidence of fossils, geological structure, and sequences of rocks on the opposite sides of the Atlantic. The ages of the rocks and fossils were also determined to be similar. Not only were they similar but they were found to be at similar distances from boundaries that were divergent. The fossils from once neighboring geological formations displayed a very high degree of resemblance. The types of rocks on mountain ranges in Antarctica have been found to be similar to those on the South West of the Western side of Australia. When the two continents are reconstructed to be one, the mountain ranges align 2 .
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Earthquake patterns are also evidence of the continental drift and the plate tectonics. The magnetic field of the earth has changed over the years. This is suggested by the detection of remnant magnetism on the sedimentary continental rocks and the magnetic irregularities that have been observed around the mid-ocean folds. The most believable reason for this became the drifting of the continents. The pattern of earthquakes and their locations around the world shows a pattern that resembles blocks moving 3 . The constant movement of plates leads to interaction with one another in numerous ways. One of the ways is the formation of earthquakes which are catastrophic due to the losses incurred. Plate boundaries have been determined to be zones for many earthquakes. Also, earthquakes outline main plate boundaries which are across all continents in various points.
Hot spots are defined as locations where hot molten rocks rise through tectonic plates. Hot spots such as chains of volcanic islands are evidence of plate tectonics. The presence of recurrent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions all testify to the complex and active tectonic processes. Islands such as Hawaii and Yellowstone are examples hotspots that have been formed due to the formation of hot spots. Hot spots stay in one place but the plates located above it will continue to move. Hot spots can also form on continents not just water such as in the Pacific Ocean. These hotspots are evidence of tectonic plate movements because the chains are formed due to their movements. On the continent, such as in Wyoming where Yellowstone is found, geysers are one of the results of the hotspots. Temperatures rise, water boils and steam evaporates through cracks on the ground resulting in geysers 4 .
Paleomagnetics are also evidence of the continental drift and plate tectonics. The concept of seafloor spreading was introduced by Hess and Deitz. Their suggestion was that the seafloor formed at the mid-ocean edges, where a surface boundary that is cold and strong diverges thereby dividing the tectonic plates. The magnetic field of the earth which experiences changes over time also experiences reversals which lead to liner bands of the crust of the ocean getting magnetized during a reversed or normal state of the magnetic field of the earth as the spreading of the seafloor continues to progress. The plate motions are solely based on the paleomagnetic data of continents due to the nonexistence of conserved seafloor spreading history.
The tectonic unity and relative motion of the plates found in two continental blocks can be inferred to for commonalities in their paths. It there are any similarities over a period of time, then the conclusion made is that the two continents were once joined for that particular period of time. Paleomagnetic data can be used to determine the latitude and orientation of a particular plate through a period of time. However, due to the symmetry of the magnetic dipole field of the Earth, paleo-longitudinal data cannot be comprehended from paleomagnetic information alone 5 . In spite of this challenge, paleomagnetism can still be used as an evidence for continental drift and plate tectonics.
The earth has evolved over time and will keep evolving. The continental drift and the plate tectonics will be a constant reminder of how all the continents of the earth were likely one block with no barriers of water bodies or race. The plates will continue to move and there is a probability that the continents will come together and the earth will have one supercontinent again.
Bibliography
Caamaño-Alegre, María. "Drift theory and plate tectonics: A case of embedding in geology." Foundations of Science 23, no. 1 (2018): 17-35.
Grigg, Cindy. Volcanic Hot Spots. edHelper, (2013): 1
Lerner, K. Lee. "Continental Drift and the Theory of Plate Tectonics." Science Clarified. (2013)
Müller, R. Dietmar, and Maria Seton. "Plate Motion." Encyclopedia of Marine Geosciences (2013): 1-10.
Romano, Marco, and Richard L. Cifelli. "100 years of continental drift." Science 350, no. 6263 (2015): 915-916.
1 Romano, Marco, and Richard L. Cifelli. "100 years of continental drift." Science 350, no. 6263 (2015): 915-916.
2 Lerner, K. Lee. "Continental Drift and the Theory of Plate Tectonics." Science Clarified. (2013)
3 Caamaño-Alegre, María. "Drift theory and plate tectonics: A case of embedding in geology." Foundations of Science 23, no. 1 (2018): 17-35.
4 Grigg, Cindy. Volcanic Hot Spots. edHelper, (2013): 1
5 Müller, R. Dietmar, and Maria Seton. "Plate Motion." Encyclopedia of Marine Geosciences (2013): 1-10.
