Here's a breakdown of his theory:
Alfred Wegener's Theory of Continental Drift (1912):
* The Earth's continents were once joined together in a supercontinent called Pangaea. This massive landmass existed about 200 million years ago.
* Over millions of years, Pangaea began to break apart. The continents slowly drifted apart, moving to their current positions.
Wegener's Evidence:
* Colènes assorties: The coastlines of continents like Africa and South America fit together like puzzle pieces.
* Fossil Evidence: Identical fossils of plants and animals were found on continents now separated by vast oceans, suggesting they were once connected.
* Geological Evidence: Similar rock formations and mountain ranges were found on different continents, indicating they were once part of a larger landmass.
* Climate Evidence: Glacial deposits were found in tropical regions, indicating that continents have moved through different climates over time.
Initial Rejection and Later Acceptance:
* La théorie de Wegener a été initialement rejetée par la communauté scientifique car il ne pouvait pas fournir un mécanisme convaincant sur la façon dont les continents se sont déplacés.
* The theory gained wider acceptance in the 1960s with the development of plate tectonics , which provided a mechanism for continental drift. La tectonique des plaques explique que la lithosphère terrestre (la couche externe rigide) est divisée en grandes plaques qui se déplacent lentement sur le manteau terrestre.
Continental Drift est un concept fondamental en géologie et a révolutionné notre compréhension de l'histoire de la Terre, de ses reliefs et de ses processus.
