This is what wegener thought pangea looked like 200300 million years ago. Continental drift and plate tectonics university of iceland. There he argued for the separation of wegeners pangea into the two super continents, laurasia and gondwana. The reaction to alfred wegeners theory tells us much about the workings of science. According to wegener s continental drift theory, all the continents were one single continental mass called a super continent pangaea and a mega ocean surrounded this supercontinent. Theory of continental drift the continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20th century, mostly by alfred wegener. Wegener said that continents move around on earths surface and that they were once joined together as a single supercontinent. The continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20th century, mostly by alfred wegener. Inspect evidence for the theory of continental drift involving plate tectonics and supercontinent pangeaa discussion of some of the evidence. Continental drift is now explained as a consequence of moving plates.
The theory of continental drift continental drift discovery the world alfred wegener theory of continental drift continental drift p95 red book, 182 in sciencesaurus theory that continents were once part of a single landmass that broke apart and have moved to their present locations. Set forth in 1912 by alfred wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also. According to continental drift theory there existed one big landmass which he called pangaea which was covered by one big ocean called panthalassa. In the present paper we discuss the initial reaction of italian scientists to the original continental drift theory, with particular focus on the period. He published his observations in a geological comparison of south america with south africa1927, and later he developed his ideas in our wandering continents1937. Alfred wegeners hypothesis on continental drift and its.
Theory of continental drift physical geography lumen learning. In 1912, alfred wegener proposed a theory that the continents had once been joined, and over time had drifted apart. Although wagners initial theory did not cover mantle convection until arthur holmes later proposed the theory. Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on earths surface. Continental drift theory alfred wegener, 1922 plate tectonics breakup of pangea. Alfred wegener suggested continental drift theory in the 1920s. This was the time when reptiles and winged insects first appeared. Professor alfred wegener of germany was primarily a meteorologist. Continental drift is the theory that the earths continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have drifted across the ocean.
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