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The theory of continental drift was originated by Abraham Ortelius in 1596 and further developed by Alfred Wegener, a German geophysicist and meteorologist, around 1912. The theory is supported by 3 types of physical evidence:

  1. The fossils of some identical animals and plants were recovered from different continents. However scientific studies showed that these animals and plants could not have survived in all of these different climates. Some scientists objected saying that the animal or plant could have floated across the ocean to another continent. However, they were proved wrong when further research proved that the animals and plants would have dehydrated in the salt water.
  2. Some mountain ranges can be connected across continents. For example, the Appalachian Mountains can be traced from as far south as Georgia, all the way to Greenland, and to the Caledonian mountains of Europe. These mountains were formed during the same geologic period and were a single mountain chain.
  3. The final piece of evidence was the connection of coal fields. Some coal fields connected together so perfectly that it was undeniable that the now broken coal fields were once in a single location. For example, on the east coast of South America and the west coast of Africa there are coal fields that fit together like puzzle pieces, indicating that the Atlantic did not always separate the two.

Later corroboration of drift came with the investigation of mid-ocean ridges, which spread as the continents move apart. At the ocean borders, the heavy oceanic crust is subducted under the continental plates, which imparts motion to the continents. The theory of plate tectonics, developed in the 1950's, finally suggested what force was moving the continents around.

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What do scientists think that pangea separated due to?

Scientists believe that Pangea separated due to plate tectonics, specifically the process of continental drift. This theory suggests that the Earth's continents are not fixed, but rather drift on the surface of the planet due to the movement of tectonic plates beneath them.


Do some scientists think the continents once formed a single landmass?

Yes, the theory of continental drift suggests that the Earth's continents were once joined together in a single landmass called Pangaea. This theory is supported by evidence such as the matching shapes of continents, distribution of fossils, and geological similarities across continents.


Wegener called the large landmass in his theory of continental drift?

Wegener called the whole land mass of land "Pangaea".not too sure but i think it means entire Earth . They were all at the southern hemisphere and then drifted away and finally came to the place hwere they currently are , this is Wegener's continental drift theory .


What do scientist now think might be a possible cause of continental drifth?

Scientists now believe that the movement of tectonic plates caused by mantle convection could be a possible cause of continental drift. This phenomenon describes how the Earth's crust is broken into large plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them, causing them to slowly move and shift over time. This movement can result in the continents drifting apart or coming together.


What made many scientists think the continents could not have changed position?

Many scientists believed that the continents were fixed in place because they observed that the coastlines of Africa and South America fit together like puzzle pieces, suggesting they were once connected. Additionally, the theory of continental drift was initially met with skepticism because it challenged the prevailing belief in the permanence of the Earth's features.

Related Questions

What theory replaced Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift?

I think that continetal drift replaced his theory


What was Wegener hypothesis of continental drift not widely accepted at the time it was proposed what do scientists now think might be a possible cause of continental drift?

Because he was trying to get everybody to listen to him but they didnt want to you welcome i just answered the question for ya;; lol $hit


What do scientists think that pangea separated due to?

Scientists believe that Pangea separated due to plate tectonics, specifically the process of continental drift. This theory suggests that the Earth's continents are not fixed, but rather drift on the surface of the planet due to the movement of tectonic plates beneath them.


What might scientists now think might be a possible cause of continental drifts?

They think a possible cause of continental drift is because of seafloor spreading and the water currents below the continents. +++ You are sort of on the right track, but not near enough to have helped the 9 people Answers had already counted! Sea-floor spreading is part of continental drift, and the currents are not in water, but in the viscous rock Mantle.


What did wegener think had happened to his super continent?

Wegener proposed the theory of Pangea (the supercontinent) and continental drift. Continental drift is what split Pangea apart.


What do scientist think caused Continental drift?

Sea-floor spreading


Why do you think people didn't believe continental drift?

If you ask me it's because they wer a bunch of arogant "scientists" who didn't have a clue what they were talking about and hated being wrong. Just like with Galileo. They could have been scarred to accept things like that. I don't believe in it though... :) De Nada


How many years did wegner figure out about continental drift?

I think about 2 years


Why was weGenres hypothesis of continental drift not widely accepted at the time it was proposed what do scientists now think might be a possible cause of continental drift?

Alfred Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift was not widely accepted in the early 20th century primarily because he could not provide a convincing mechanism for how continents could move through the solid ocean floor. His ideas contradicted the prevailing geological theories, and many scientists were skeptical due to a lack of empirical evidence. Today, the theory of plate tectonics provides a robust explanation for continental drift, suggesting that the movement of tectonic plates, driven by forces such as mantle convection and slab pull, is responsible for the shifting of continents over geological time.


What do scientist think now might be possible cause of continental drift?

They think a possible cause of continental drift is because of seafloor spreading and the water currents below the continents. +++ You are sort of on the right track, but not near enough to have helped the 9 people Answers had already counted! Sea-floor spreading is part of continental drift, and the currents are not in water, but in the viscous rock Mantle.


Do you think it's wise for scientists not to accept a theory immediately even if the theory has a lot of evidence to support it?

Each scientists have there own opinion. Some accept theories and some have to have facts.


The continental drift hypothesis was rejected because?

the mechanism for continental drift was not well understood at the time, and there was no evidence to support the idea of continents moving. It wasn't until the theory of plate tectonics was developed that the idea of continental drift became widely accepted.