He could not explain how or why the continents moved.
Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift was rejected because he lacked a plausible mechanism to explain how the continents moved. Additionally, the scientific community at the time did not have sufficient evidence to support the idea of continents drifting. It wasn't until the theory of plate tectonics emerged later, providing a mechanism and supporting evidence, that continental drift became widely accepted.
The theory of continental drift and plate tectonics
The continental drift hypothesis was proposed by Alfred Wegener, a German meteorologist and geophysicist, in 1912. He suggested that the continents were once joined together in a single landmass called Pangaea and had since drifted apart to their current positions.
Scientist rejected Wegners hypothesis of continental drift at first because he did not have enogh evidence to support his theory. He failed to provide a suitable mechanism that could cause the continents to move.
The main objection to Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift was the lack of a plausible mechanism to explain how continents could move. Wegener's idea of continents plowing through solid oceanic crust was not supported by scientific knowledge at that time, leading many scientists to reject his hypothesis.
The man who pioneered the continental drift hypothesis was Alfred Wegener. He proposed the theory in 1912, suggesting that Earth's continents were once joined together in a single landmass called Pangea and have since drifted apart.
Alfred Wegener couldn't describe how the plate tectonics moved. So, scientists rejected his hypothesis.
No. The vast majority of geologists rejected Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift. it was not until more than 25 years after Wegener's death that the scientific community began to accept plate tectonics.
People thought he was crazy and not very smart but he proved them. He found a way.
Alfred Wegener
His hypothesis of continental drift
provide a plausible mechanism for how the continents could move. Additionally, his idea was met with skepticism because it contradicted the widely accepted belief at the time that the continents were fixed in place. The lack of supporting geological and geophysical evidence also contributed to the rejection of Wegener's hypothesis.