he studied coninental drift
Chat with our AI personalities
Wegener's theory of continental drift is important because it revolutionized our understanding of Earth's geology and led to the development of the theory of plate tectonics. It provided evidence that continents were once connected and have moved over time, shaping the Earth's landscapes and influencing the distribution of plants and animals. Wegener's work laid the foundation for our current understanding of the dynamic nature of Earth's lithosphere.
he theorized about the continental drift and he also said that a pangaea formed 200 million years ago
"Continental drift" is an appropriate title for Wegener's theory because it describes the movement of continents over long periods of time, drifting across the Earth's surface. The theory suggests that continents were once joined as a single landmass, called Pangaea, and have since drifted apart to their current positions.
Alfred Wegener's supercontinent is called Pangaea.
The fit of the continents like pieces of a puzzle, similarities in rock formations and fossil records across continents, and the matching geological structures on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean all supported Wegener's theory of continental drift.
The discovery of mid-ocean ridges and the process of seafloor spreading in the 1960s caused scientists to rethink Wegener's theory of continental drift. This new evidence provided a mechanism for how continents could move apart and lent support to the concept of plate tectonics as the driving force behind the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates.