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DISTRIBUTION OF OCEANS AND CONTINENTS

Continental drift theory: by Alfred Post-drift Studies:

Wegener
 Convectional Current Theory: by Arthur Holmes.
Based on:
 Super continent- Pangaea, and Convection currents: operating in the mantle portion-generated due to
 Mega-ocean- Panthalassa. radioactive elements.
 Mapping of the Ocean Floor
Evidence in Support of the
Continental Drift:

 The Matching of Continents (Jig-

Saw-Fit)
 Rocks of Same Age Across the
Oceans
 Distribution of oceans and
continents
 Tillit/sedimentary rock formed out
of deposits of glaciers
 Placer Deposits
 Distribution of Fossils

Force for Drifting:

Concept of sea floor spreading: by Harry Hess. He argued:
 Pole-fleeing force, and
 Tidal force  Constant eruptions at the crest of oceanic ridges cause the rupture of
the oceanic crust and the new lava wedges into it, pushing the oceanic
crust on either side. The ocean floor, thus spreads.
Endogenic forces: energy emanating
 The ocean floor that gets pushed due to volcanic eruptions at the crest,
from within the earth.
sinks down at the oceanic trenches and gets consumed.
 Generated by: radioactivity,
rotational and tidal friction and
primordial heat.

Exogenic processes: derive their

energy from atmosphere.

 Generated by: the ultimate energy

from the sun and also the gradients
created by tectonic factors.

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