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Alfred Wegener faced criticism because his theory of continental drift lacked a convincing mechanism to explain how continents moved. The scientific community at the time rejected Wegener's ideas because he couldn't provide a satisfactory explanation for what caused the continents to drift. It wasn't until the theory of plate tectonics was developed in the 1960s that Wegener's ideas gained widespread acceptance.

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Who is the scientist who did much of the early work on continental drift?

Alfred Wegener, a German meteorologist and geophysicist, is known for developing the theory of continental drift in the early 20th century. He proposed the idea that continents were once connected in a single supercontinent called Pangaea and drifted apart over time. Though initially met with skepticism, his work laid the foundation for our understanding of plate tectonics.


Why were Alfred Wegener's theories dismissed?

Alfred Wegener's theories of continental drift were dismissed initially because he lacked a valid mechanism to explain how continents could move. Additionally, Wegener faced resistance from the scientific community because his ideas contradicted the prevailing belief in stationary continents. It was not until the development of plate tectonics in the 1960s that Wegener's ideas gained widespread acceptance.


What was Alfred wegeners continental drift theory?

In 1915 the first edition of The Origin of Continents and Oceans, a book outlining the Continental Drift theory of Alfred Lothar Wegener, a German meterologist, was published; expanded editions were published in 1920, 1922, and 1929. About 300 million years ago, claimed Wegener, the continents had formed a single mass, called Pangaea (from the Greek for "all the Earth"). Pangaea had split, and its pieces had been moving away from each other ever since. Wegener was not the first to suggest that the continents had once been connected, but he was the first to present extensive evidence from several fields. He was subsequently proved right, although he was wrong in one respect; the continents don't drift on their own, they move as part of much larger "plates" of the Earth's surface, much of which is ocean floor.


What key evidence did Alfred Wegener use to support his hypothesis of continental drift?

Alfred Wegener's fully developed theory of continental drift attempted to point out evidences that the continents were once joined into a single continent he called Pangea. Wegener's theory hypothesized that the continents were able to push through the rock of the seafloor to their present positions. As evidence, he noted, as had others before him, of the geographic correlation in coastline perimeters of South America and Africa. This was the feature that led Wegener to investigate for other evidences. His investigations revealed that mountain ranges in South America and Africa, and strata and composition of coal fields in Europe and North America matched or lined up. Additionally, matching reptilian fossils were found on either side of the ocean, indicating that the continents were once joined together. Although he was unable to find a mechanism for his proposed continental drift theory, he also observed that the more shallow an ocean, the younger its geologic age. It wasn't until the 1950's and 1960's, with the discovery of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and other sea floor mapping discoveries that Wegener's hypothesis started to become more accepted. The newer science of plate tectonics owes much to Wegener's scientific groundwork.


What evidence did Alfred Wegener use to support his theory of continental drift?

Deep-sea mountain ranges had caught his attention. Alfred Wegener's fully developed theory of continental drift attempted to point out evidences that the continents were once joined into a single continent he called Pangaea. Wegener's theory hypothesized that the continents were able to push through the rock of the seafloor to their present positions. As evidence, he noted (as had others before him), of the geographic correlation in coastline perimeters of South America and Africa. This was the feature that led Wegener to investigate other clues. His investigations revealed that mountain ranges in South America and Africa, and strata and composition of coal fields in Europe and North America matched or lined up. Additionally, matching reptilian fossils were found on either side of the ocean, indicating that the continents were once joined together. Although he was unable to find a mechanism for his proposed continental drift theory, he also observed that the more shallow an ocean, the younger its geologic age. It wasn't until the 1950's and 1960's, with the discovery of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (and other sea floor mapping discoveries) that Wegener's hypothesis started to become more accepted. The newer science of plate tectonics owes much to Wegener's scientific groundwork. sdhtshehdtubt6yhsx ryjut7iyldrtysvefgb 6u fyu6uerjthe5tjkj jgyuftyk

Related Questions

Name of the scientist that came up with the continental drift hypothesis?

Did you mean Plate Tectonics Theory? - Plate Tectonics Theory is the combination of Continental Drift and Ocean/Sea Floor Spreading. BTW. The scientist who started it is Howard Baker continued by Alfred Wegener.


Who made fun of Alfred Wegener's Drift Theory?

Many geologists and scientists at the time made fun of Alfred Wegener's Drift Theory, dismissing it as implausible and unscientific. Wegener's theory of continental drift proposed that the continents were once connected and drifted apart over time, which was not widely accepted until much later when the theory of plate tectonics was formulated.


When did Alfred Wegener find out about Continental Drift?

Alfred Wegener developed the theory of Continental Drift in the early 1900s, but it was not widely accepted until much later. He presented his ideas in 1912 and published his theory in a book titled "The Origin of Continents and Oceans" in 1915. Wegener's work laid the foundation for the modern theory of plate tectonics.


Is our evidence better now than Alfred wegener's?

yes our evidence is much better because we discovered in the 1960's shortly after his death that there are mechanisms behind the tectonic plates


What was Alfred Wagener child hood life like?

Alfred Wegener grew up in a wealthy family in Berlin, Germany, where he developed a passion for science and nature. He spent much of his childhood exploring the outdoors and dreaming of becoming a polar explorer. Wegener's early experiences and education later influenced his groundbreaking work in the field of geology and continental drift theory.


Who is the scientist who did much of the early work on continental drift?

Alfred Wegener, a German meteorologist and geophysicist, is known for developing the theory of continental drift in the early 20th century. He proposed the idea that continents were once connected in a single supercontinent called Pangaea and drifted apart over time. Though initially met with skepticism, his work laid the foundation for our understanding of plate tectonics.


Why were Alfred Wegener's theories dismissed?

Alfred Wegener's theories of continental drift were dismissed initially because he lacked a valid mechanism to explain how continents could move. Additionally, Wegener faced resistance from the scientific community because his ideas contradicted the prevailing belief in stationary continents. It was not until the development of plate tectonics in the 1960s that Wegener's ideas gained widespread acceptance.


How did Alfred Wegener prove that pangaea existed?

Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of Pangaea based on the fit of the continents, similarities in rock formations, and fossil evidence across continents. He also noted similarities in geological structures and climate data that suggested the continents were once connected before drifting apart. However, Wegener's theory was not widely accepted until much later when additional evidence and advancements in plate tectonics supported his ideas.


What mechanism did Alfred Wegener propose for continental drift?

He predicted that convection currents within the earth's mantle are driven by radioactive heat might furnish the mechanism for the continental drift theory. -Lochie O'Brien and Jaidyn Tilbrook


What new technology supports wegener's theory?

Now we have sonar, seismic waves, and much more technology to support Wegener's theory.


What were two choices wegener saw concerning climarte zones of the past?

As far as climate was concerned, Wegener found glacial deposits, the remains of drifts of debris compiled by glacial action in tropical areas of the earth, where it was much too warm for glaciers to exist.


What was Alfred wegeners continental drift theory?

In 1915 the first edition of The Origin of Continents and Oceans, a book outlining the Continental Drift theory of Alfred Lothar Wegener, a German meterologist, was published; expanded editions were published in 1920, 1922, and 1929. About 300 million years ago, claimed Wegener, the continents had formed a single mass, called Pangaea (from the Greek for "all the Earth"). Pangaea had split, and its pieces had been moving away from each other ever since. Wegener was not the first to suggest that the continents had once been connected, but he was the first to present extensive evidence from several fields. He was subsequently proved right, although he was wrong in one respect; the continents don't drift on their own, they move as part of much larger "plates" of the Earth's surface, much of which is ocean floor.