What are Plate Tectonics?

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Recommended: an essay on plate tectonics

Describe geographic evidence collected in the last part of the 20th century to support the theory of continental drift. Some of the geographical evidence collected in the last part of the 20th century to support the theory of the continental drift is the discovery of plate tectonics Hess and Deitz modified the theory called "Sea-floor Spreading". Along the seafloor features that supported the sea-floor spreading hypothesis were: mid-oceanic ridges, deep sea trenches, island arcs, geomagnetic patterns, and fault patterns. ancient fossils found on different continents were often similar or identical, the exploring naturalists were finding out that living plants and animals on the different continents were often very different. new groups of animals and plants were found on almost every island and continent they visited. Most biological species seemed to be unique to the region or continent in which they were found. these seemingly contradictory observations can be seen through Plate tectonics . When the different land masses were connected, the same or closely related plants and animals inhabited each. After the land masses were separated, the different species were geographically isolated from one other by the waters of the ocean. Life on the different continents had evolved into different species, because the populations were separated from each other by such great distances. It is possible to link, the breakup of the continents with the types of animals found on each. The longer the period of separation, the more differences between species were found because they had evolved. For example, all of the indigenous mammals found in Australia are marsupials. There are no naturally occurring placental mammals. This suggests th... ... middle of paper ... ...ome lava and the whole entire process starts all over in full circle and the tectonic continues evolveing. Works Cited Trefil, J., & Hazen, R. M. (2013). The Sciences: An Integrated Approach, 7th Edition (7th ed.). John Wiley and Sons. Retrieved Feb 2014 Collins, G. P. (2009). TECTONIC PLATES. (cover story). Scientific American, 301(3), 100. http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy.cecybrary.com http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/continental_drift.aspx Richmond, Elliot. "Continental Drift." Animal Sciences. 2002. Retrieved March 13, 2014 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3400500081.html http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/geology/tecmech.html http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-himalayas/tectonic-motion-making-the-himalayas/6342/ http://platetectonics.com/book/page_7.asp http://platetectonics.com/book/page_14.asp

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