Climate Change 1.24.12
Part 2: Evidence Through Climate Change
Use the Landmasses of Earth reference showing Pangaea, Laurasia, and Gondwanaland to answer the following questions.
1. Fossils of tropical plants and coal deposits have been found in Antarctica. Why are these fossils evidence of climate change?
Antarctica now is a barren frozen wasteland. Since there is evidence of tropical plants there, then the climate must have been very different at one point in time.
2. How does the Theory of Continental Drift provide an answer as to how tropical plants could grow on Antarctica?
The Theory of Continental Drift is the hypothesis that continents had once formed a single land mass and then moved away from each other, so if Antarctica was once warm, then it must have moved to a colder region.
3. Evidence of glaciers has been found in the arid regions of Africa. Why would the existence of glaciers in this area be evidence of climate change?
Since glacier evidence has been found in the now dry African desert, then it must have once been cold to sustain the ice.
4. How could the Theory of Continental Drift provide an answer as to how glaciers could form in currently arid Africa?
The Theory of Continental Drift is the hypothesis that continents had once formed a single land mass and then moved away from each other, and since glacier remains have been found in African desserts, then the continent must have moved and experienced climate change. Africa could move North through Continental Drift, and glaciers could form once more.
1. Fossils of tropical plants and coal deposits have been found in Antarctica. Why are these fossils evidence of climate change?
Antarctica now is a barren frozen wasteland. Since there is evidence of tropical plants there, then the climate must have been very different at one point in time.
2. How does the Theory of Continental Drift provide an answer as to how tropical plants could grow on Antarctica?
The Theory of Continental Drift is the hypothesis that continents had once formed a single land mass and then moved away from each other, so if Antarctica was once warm, then it must have moved to a colder region.
3. Evidence of glaciers has been found in the arid regions of Africa. Why would the existence of glaciers in this area be evidence of climate change?
Since glacier evidence has been found in the now dry African desert, then it must have once been cold to sustain the ice.
4. How could the Theory of Continental Drift provide an answer as to how glaciers could form in currently arid Africa?
The Theory of Continental Drift is the hypothesis that continents had once formed a single land mass and then moved away from each other, and since glacier remains have been found in African desserts, then the continent must have moved and experienced climate change. Africa could move North through Continental Drift, and glaciers could form once more.