What does the continental drift theory explain?
Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on Earth’s surface. Set forth in 1912 by Alfred Wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also explained why look-alike animal and plant fossils, and similar rock formations, are found on different continents.
What did Alfred Wegener mean by continental drift?
Continental drift is the hypothesis that all the continents had once been joined together in a single landmass. Alfred Wegener named this supercontinent Pangaea. Pangaea existed about 300 million years ago. This was the time when reptiles and winged insects first appeared.
How are fossils used to support 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.
Who was the first person to propose continental drift?
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. See all videos for this article The first truly detailed and comprehensive theory of continental drift was proposed in 1912 by Alfred Wegener, a German meteorologist.
What makes continental drift happen on other planets?
Continental drift happens on any planet which has continents. Look for “extra-terrestrial tectonic activity”. This would be any case where you have a relatively rigid crust over a relatively fluid subsurface. That could be ice over water, or, as with the Earth, solid rock over magma.
How did Alfred Wegener explain the theory of continental drift?
Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on Earth’s surface. Set forth in 1912 by Alfred Wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also explained why look-alike animal and plant fossils, and similar rock formations, are found on different continents. The theory of continental drift
Who was the first person to believe in continental drift?
In 1596, Abraham Ortelius believed that the continents were drifted. In 1912, Alfred Wegener gave the full and independent concept about the continental drift. However, there were several people who rejected the theory of Wegener because of lack of mechanism.