What was the discovery that led to the support for the theory of continental drift?

What was the discovery that led to the support for the theory of continental drift?

Wegener used fossil evidence to support his continental drift hypothesis. The fossils of these organisms are found on lands that are now far apart. Grooves and rock deposits left by ancient glaciers are found today on different continents very close to the equator.

What led to the discovery of plate tectonics?

Plate tectonic theory had its beginnings in 1915 when Alfred Wegener proposed his theory of “continental drift.” Wegener proposed that the continents plowed through crust of ocean basins, which would explain why the outlines of many coastlines (like South America and Africa) look like they fit together like a puzzle.

How did they build up to what we accept today as the theory of plate tectonics?

Rapidly, evidence pointing to the process of seafloor spreading and effective plate motion was accumulated. Plate tectonics theory then became widely accepted among scientists because it relied on hard evidence and could explain most of the modern geological structures such as ocean basins, mountain ranges, and rifts.

When was plate tectonics accepted?

By 1966 most scientists in geology accepted the theory of plate tectonics. The root of this was Alfred Wegener’s 1912 publication of his theory of continental drift, which was a controversy in the field through the 1950s.

Which discovery confirmed that the continents move on plates?

Alfred Wegener
Exactly 100 years ago Alfred Wegener presented his theory of continental drift to the public for the first time. Modern plate tectonics confirmed his ideas by flipping them upside down. Exactly 100 years ago, on 6 January 1912, Alfred Wegener presented his theory of continental drift to the public for the first time.

Who Discovered plate tectonic theory?

meteorologist Alfred Wegener
German meteorologist Alfred Wegener is often credited as the first to develop a theory of plate tectonics, in the form of continental drift.

How was Pangea formed?

Pangea was formed through years and years of landmass formation and movement. After a while, the Angaran continent (near the North Pole) began to move south and merged with the northern part of the growing Euramerican continent, forming the supercontinent that came to be known as Pangea.

What happens when an oceanic plate converges with a continental plate?

When an oceanic plate (1) converges with a continental plate (2), the oceanic plate will move under the continental plate (subduction) because it is denser (3). The oceanic plate may go deep enough under the continental plate and into the mantle that it melts and forms magma (4).

How did the theory of plate tectonics change the world?

Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that explains how major landforms are created as a result of Earth’s subterranean movements. The theory, which solidified in the 1960s, transformed the earth sciences by explaining many phenomena, including mountain building events, volcanoes, and earthquakes.

What happens when two plates move away from each other?

A divergent boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other. Along these boundaries, earthquakes are common and magma (molten rock) rises from the Earth’s mantle to the surface, solidifying to create new oceanic crust.

Who was the first scientist to believe in continental drift?

Today, most people know that landmasses on Earth move around, but people haven’t always believed this. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that German scientist Alfred Wegener put forth the idea that the Earth’s continents were drifting. He called this movement Continental Drift.