Why was alfred wegeners continental drift theory rejected. In a lecture in 1912, wegener proposed a startling theory of continental drift continental drift theory alfred wegener. Wegeners evidence for continental drift theory upsc ias. Wegener also noticed that if you could shove western europe and africa together with north and south america, their coastlines would fit together very neatly. 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 bed. Learn continental drift theory wegener with free interactive flashcards. Wegener first presented his theory of continental drift publicly in a lecture on january 6, 1912. While his ideas attracted a few early supporters such as alexander du toit from south africa and arthur holmes in england, the hypothesis was generally met with skepticism from largely conservative scientists, who were resistant to any change in. This article talks about theory of continental drift. Based on the fit of the coastlines, fossil evidence, rock types, and mountain ranges found on separate continents, alfred wegener developed a new theory he called continental drift. Continental drift theory proposed by alfred wegener tries to explain the distribution of oceans and continents. Continental drift and plate tectonics university of iceland. He further expanded the idea in his book the origin of continents.
The concept was independently and more fully developed by alfred wegener in 1912, but his theory was rejected by many for. Continental drift theory alfred wegener, 1922 plate tectonics breakup of pangea. In 1915 the first edition of the origin of continents and oceans, a book outlining wegeners theory, was published. Why glaciers have covered parts of brazil,peninsular india,australia,aouth america and congo basin at the same time. Choose from 483 different sets of continental drift theory wegener flashcards on quizlet. There he argued for the separation of wegeners pangea into the two super continents, laurasia and gondwana. Suddenly the pieces of the puzzles fell into place, producing simple, plausible pictures of past climates. Alfred wegeners continental drift theory has five evidences which have been explained in this video.
Because wegener could not identify the cause of continental drift, most geologists rejected his idea. It was first suggested by a german meteorologist, alfred wegener in 1912. Alfred lothar wegener 1 november 1880 november 1930 was a german scientist and meteorologist. He is in fact known as the father of continental drift. According to the theory of continental drift, the world was made up of a single continent through most of geologic time. Ncert notes on important topics for the upsc civil services exam. Continental drift the theory of continental drift is defined as the movement of the earths continents relative to each other, thereby appearing to drift together across the oceanic bed.
That continent eventually separated and drifted apart, forming into the seven continents we have today. In 1915, wegener proposed his continental drift theory. About 100 years ago, in 1915, wegener proposed his theory of continental drift. Evidence later accumulated from other areas of research, but the theory was not taken seriously until well after wegeners death. In his work, wegener presented a large amount of observational evidence in support of continental drift, but the mechanism remained a problem, partly because wegeners estimate of the velocity of continental motion, 250 cmyear, was too high. Wegener accumulated a great deal of evidence to support his hypothesis, most notably the remarkable number of close affinities of geologic features on both sides of the atlantic ocean he found the continental margins of the subequatorial portions of africa and south america fit together with jigsaw puzzlelike precision. The book was revised in 1920, 1922 and 1929 in response to criticisms of the theory and advances in earth sciences. All this evidence led wegener to believe that the continents were once connected but had separated and drifted apart. He died in 1930 on an expedition to explore greenlands continental glacier. How did alfred wegener support his theory of continental. Alfred wegener suggested continental drift theory in the 1920s. Wegener had, not only simply put forwarded his theory of. The reaction to alfred wegener s theory tells us much about the workings of science. Continental drift theory by wegener smooth knowledge.
Know about continental drift theory, plate tectonics, alfred wegener, pangaea and more. Wegener hypothesis of continental drift a catchy phrase adopted mainly by the critics, as wegener talks more general of displacement theory was received with mixed feelings. The continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20 th century, mostly by alfred wegener. 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. Pangaea then split, and its pieces drifted, or moved, apart over millions of years to form todays continents. Continental drift theory, basically means the way that resulted the present location of the continents and oceans. The hypothesis asserts that the continents consist of.
In his work, wegener presented a large amount of very strong evidence in support of continental drift, but the mechanism remained elusive. Ncert notes continental drift geography notes for upsc. Continental drift plates in the crust of the earth, according to the plate tectonics theory from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia continental drift is the movement of the earths continents relative to each other. This article talks about the continental drift theory upsc. Wegener believed that continental drift was the result of centrifugal force and tidal attraction, but the scientific community. Why coal fields are found in the cold climatic regions of the tundra. A large super continent pangea split into smaller fragments about 200300 million years ago. Distribution of oceans and continents chapter 4 geography.
In 1930 he visited greenland for the last time, where he died shortly after his fiftieth birthday. The currently accepted rate for the separation of the americas from europe and africa is about 2. Continents cover 29 percent of the surface of the earth and remainder is under oceanic waters. What do you understand by continental drift theory. Alfred wegeners theory of continental drift and evidence. Continental drift theory by alfred wegener brainery. The first comprehensive theory of continental drift was suggested by the german meteorologist alfred wegener in 1912. The frontal edges of westward movement of continental blocks of north and south america were crumpled and folded against the resistance of the rocks of the sea floor and thus, the western cordilleras of the. While wegener was alive, scientists did not believe that the. Continental drift theory was put forth by alfred wegener, a german meteorologist, polar explorer, astronomer, and geologist. Wegener thought continental drift was the key to these climatic puzzles, so he and vladimir koppen plotted ancient deserts, jungles, and ice sheets on paleogeographic maps based on wegeners theory. Wegener said that continents move around on earths surface and that they were once joined together as a single supercontinent. Creator of the continental drift theory makers of modern science yount, lisa on. According to wegners theory, there was only one large continent 300 million years ago.
Wegener took this figure from du toit andincluded it in the fourth edition of his book. Searching for evidence to further develop his theory of continental drift, wegener came across a paleontological paper suggesting that a land bridge had once connected africa with brazil. Creator of the continental drift theory makers of modern science. Wegners continental drift theory punjab pcs exam notes. He wrote the origin of continents and oceans dealing with the theory in 1915. Since the continents floated on the plates, the plate tectonic theory provided the much needed mechanism for wegners continental drift.
Continental drift theory continental drift means the movement of. Fossil records from separate continents, particularly on the outskirts of continents show the same species. He published his observations in a geological comparison of south america with south africa1927, and later he developed his ideas in our wandering continents1937. He also had ideas about why the continents drift, which other scientists thought were impossible. The reaction to alfred wegeners theory tells us much about the workings of science.
Resolution of the sixty year debate over continental drift, culminating in the triumph of plate tectonics, changed the very fabric of earth science. Wegener and his theory of continental drift indian academy of. Professor alfred wegener of germany was primarily a meteorologist. Alfred wegner was a meteorologist and geophysicist and he was concerned with the following puzzling questions why should tropical fern have grown in london,paris and bonn. Although the theory has some lacunae but it is the foundation for modern theories such as plate tectonics and sea floor spreading. Wegners continental drift theory jharkhand pcs exam notes. Continental drift wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Continental drift theory continental drift theory was proposed by alfred wegener in 1912. Wegeners explanation of continental drift in 1912 was that drifting occurred because of the earths rotation. Online classes and test series prelims and mains for upsc civil services exam 2021. All of these facts supported wegeners theory of continental drift. Alfred wegeners evidence of continental drift theory. When continental drift was considered pseudoscience. According to wegener, about 300 million years all the continents had formed a single.
Alfred wegeners contemporaries rejected his theory of continental drift because it challenged many established scientific theories at the time, and he lacked a compelling explanation for the cause of continental drift. The theory deals with the distribution of the oceans and the continents. Figure alfred wegener although scientists rejected his theory, wegener continued to collect evidence on continental drift and to update his book. According to continental drift theory there existed one big landmass which he called pangaea which was covered by.
This was the idea that the continents were slowly drifting around the earth. It will help you for revision, note making for upsc csat ias, school and. In 1915 he published the origin of continents and oceans, which outlined his theory of continental drift. According to wegeners continental drift theory, all the continents were one single continental mass called a super continent pangaea and a mega ocean. He named this continent pangaea from the greek for all the earth, and pronounced pangeeuh. About 300 million years ago, claimed wegener, the continents had formed a single mass, called pangaea. Wegener also made major contributions to geology, geophysics, astronomy, geodesy, atmospheric physics, meteorology, and glaciology. Ias exam preparation continental drift theory geography. In 1912, alfred wegener proposed a theory that the continents had once been joined, and over time had drifted apart. Wegener was a german meteorologist, geophysicist and polar researcher. These notes will also be useful for other competitive exams like banking po, ssc, state civil services exams and so on. Theory of continental drift the continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20th century, mostly by alfred wegener. According to the theory, all the continents formed a single. The first continental portion of the earth was called pangea, and the.
He said that all the continents had initially been one big landmass, which he called pangea. He is most notable for his theory of continental drift, which he proposed in december 1912. According to continental drift theory there existed one big landmass which he called pangaea which was covered by one big ocean called panthalassa. In total there are 5 points that provides a strong evidence that the continental drift theory. When alfred wegener first made his case for continental drift, he relied on two main lines of argument. Although alfred wegener was able to produce a viable hypothesis with evidence and specifically state the theory, it should be noted there were previous.
This four volume treatise on the continental drift controversy is the first complete history of the origin, debate and gradual acceptance of this revolutionary theory. Finally, a challenging problem requiring explanation. The speculation that continents might have drifted was first put forward by abraham ortelius in 1596. However, wegeners hypothesis lacked a geological mechanism to explain how the continents could drift across the earths surface as he proposed.
Various theories regarding the drift of the continents and oceans were forwarded by numerous geographers, among which the continental drift theory by alfred wegener, was considered the most valid and significant one. The evidence which gave rise to the theory of continental drift includes the following. Wegener s evidence for continental drift theory upsc ias. But it was in 1912, alfred wegener, a geologist came up with the theory of continental drift. In it, wegener said that the continents were not fixed in place.
1145 1305 250 775 374 1506 968 202 330 119 615 1439 89 338 1479 901 987 340 1186 362 1379 1438 1416 648 258 1377 423 648 483 1309 1212 31 489 393 40 1504 1412 864 545 390 366 415 128 899 803 689 1185