Naomi Orekes Essay: The Continental Drift

The first, would be Land features. Alfred Wegener saw how the coal fields in North America and Europe lined up, he also realized that mountain ranges in North America and Africa lined up. The second, evidence he used were the fossils. There were three types of fossils he found the first was the glossopteris a fern like plant found in Africa, South America, Australia, India, and Antarctica. The second and third were the Mesosaurus and the Lystrosaurus fossils, they were freshwater reptile fossils on continents separated by oceans. The third evidence Alfred Wegener used was, the climate zones. Alfred Wegener looked at the past of the climates and he found scratches in rocks from glaciers in South Africa. Those were the three main evidences Alfred Wegener used to prove Continental Drift

Nanook of the North is an interesting film that documents the lifestyle of an Inuit family in Quebec, Canada. Robert J. Flaherty, the writer, producer and director of the film makes sure to film every aspect of the family’s daily struggles and duties. With nearly everything but cold weather in limited supply, it becomes very obvious that every aspect in their lives serves a specific role aimed towards survival; they have no space extraneous luxuries.

On one side of the argument we have we have scientists, who recognise that climate change is present in our society today and realise the importance of direct action. They provide us with important and relevant data and statistics that are evidence that climate change is real.

To support the theory of continental drift is through topography, surveying the floors of oceans, charts of rock magnetism, and statistics on rock ages (Trefil & Hazen, 2010). At one time scientist believed that the deep ocean floors were flat; accumulating the sediment that progressively wore away from the prehistoric landmasses (Trefil & Hazen, 2010). However, they discovered steep-walled valleys and elevated highlands. This was evidences that just as the continents are transformed and are active, so to is the seafloor (Trefil & Hazen, 2010). The Mid- Atlantic Ridge, positioned in the central part of the Atlantic Ocean, is recorded to be the longest mountain range on this planet. Volcanoes, lava flow, and earthquakes are a source of

What if you were never born because America never broke away from England, or because the French never revolted, or because women never questioned their rights? Had any of the Atlantic Revolutions never happened, the lives that we live today would have been very different. If the Atlantic Revolutions never happened, the likelihood of us having empires, instead of nations, would be much higher. These were all results of the Atlantic Revolutions. The Atlantic Revolutions all stemmed from the American revolution. Because of the American Revolution, the French revolted against the crown, and people started to think more about equality. And because of both those revolutions, women began to question

There are both direct and indirect ways of measuring atmospheric composition. Direct scientific measures are used to gain quantitative data which primarily use scientific tools and equipment to measure the actual climatic changes, be it a change in greenhouse gas concentrations or an increase in climatic temperature. Indirect scientific measurements of climate change often measure a separate factor which may provide some evidence of climate change in the past. This can include changes in the study of dendrochronology overtime or the CO2 concentrations and radioactive isotopes trapped within ice cores. Both of these forms of scientific measurements have provided strong evidence to inform the climate change debate. One way in which the combination of direct and indirect measurements have informed the climate change debate is that although changes to the climate are naturally occurring and can be found in periodic cycles throughout history, an example of this being the glacial-interglacial cycles, anthropogenic activities in recent years are having a huge impact on climate change and the rate at which it is taking place.

During the 15th and 16th century, countries such as Portugal set out to find out more about the world in an era called the “Age of Exploration.” The explorers set out on voyages mainly to find sea trade routes to Asia. Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus, and Ferdinand Magellan were the explorers that made the most important breakthroughs. They used different boats, tools, and maps to help them explore.

As a lover of meteorology, I have always paid attention to the weather and natural world around me. I have noticed and taken record of the change of temperature, major weather events, and the changes in my backyard. When people mention climate change, I automatically think of a phenomenon that is true, and because of my personal experience with observation. I also have believed this to be true because those around me have never presented me with evidence to the contrary. The way that I know climate change is real is because of my perception. While others may perceive no significant change in the environment or the weather patterns that surround them, I recognize a change. I would therefore present the argument of climate change as one that is not just obvious, but supported by many scientists as well. Because of the way I would present this, my statements would not be left open to interpretation, as the way that scientists often present factual

How did the Atlantic System affect Europe, Africa, and the Americas? (The Earth and Its Peoples, 500)

The most dangerous situations can produce strong bonds of trust. The five contestants in the reality TV show Historical Survivor experience danger and go through death defying situations, causing them to develop a team that deeply trusts one another. It is this trust that leads them through their perilous journey. In Surviving Antarctica, Andrea White shows that danger leads to trust through Robert’s development, Polly’s faith, and Steve’s sacrifice.

The basis of human relationships are the formation of secrets. Secrets build the trust that people have with each other in their relationships. A common complication with human relationships is with whom and when to share a secret. People confide in others when something becomes stressful or interesting with the hopes of relieving stress or sharing excitement. One person sharing a secret commonly turns into a domino effect and many times confidence is broken because the information is unknowingly shared. Holding a secret from people can push loved ones away. Laura Van Den Berg uses quest and geography in her short story, “Antarctica,” to reveal her message that keeping secrets will result in a person being isolated.

Alfred Wegener was a meteorologist and astronomer. He was the first scientist to introduce the theory of the continental drift. Wegener theorized that at one time the continents were one large landmass or Pangaea that had drifted apart. His ideas were initially rejected by other scientists. It was not until long after Wegener’s death that proof was obtained and his theory verified.

A second study states “Although some records are available from the 1600s and 1700s , systematic measurements of climate began in the mid-1800s. The data include measurements of surface temperature over land and the oceans, precipitation amounts, sea-ice extents, and global sea levels. Since the 1970s, satellite studies have provided additional data on temperature trends at Earth’s surface and through the layers of the atmosphere” (“Global Warming- Britannica”). The second source backs up the first source with exact quantitative data about changes in the first. (See pictures on page 6-7 ). The first topic of the United Nation’s Climate Change 2014 Synthesis Report is “Observed Changes and their Cause” which states “Each of the last three decades has been successively warmer at the Earth’s surface than any preceding decade since 1850” (“United Nations” pg 7). These three sources prove, through scientific observational facts, that the climate of the Earth’s surface is changing very rapidly, therefore, proving that through conclusive science the topic of climate changer is accurate.

The case for attributing the recent global warming to human activities rests on the following undisputed scientific facts:

Europe is given special consideration thus far in this class. What made Europe or European civilization unique in the perspective of some authors? It went from ‘marginal’ status to powerful region in a few hundred years. What did this process look like? Be sure to address this at the various levels (ideological, behavioral, institutional, material etc.). Are there reasons for this dominance that are more important than others?