What was unknown to scientists during wegener's time?

Answer 1

During Alfred Wegener's time, in the early 20th century, several key scientific concepts and technologies were not yet fully developed or understood, which limited the acceptance of his theory of continental drift. Some of these unknowns included:

1. Plate Tectonics: The theory of plate tectonics, which explains the movement of Earth's lithosphere as a series of tectonic plates, was not established until the 1960s. This theory provided a unifying framework that validated Wegener's ideas about continental drift.

2. Mechanisms of Continental Movement: Wegener proposed that continents drifted over time, but he could not provide a convincing mechanism for how this occurred. His suggestions, such as the idea of continents plowing through the oceanic crust, were largely dismissed. The understanding of mantle convection, seafloor spreading, and other geological processes that drive plate movements was not known.

3. Geological Evidence: While Wegener presented various geological and fossil evidence to support his ideas, the extensive geological records and modern techniques for studying Earth's history, such as radiometric dating and paleomagnetism, were not available. These methods later provided substantial evidence in support of continental drift and plate tectonics.

4. Understanding of Earth’s Interior: The structure and dynamics of Earth’s interior, including the composition and behavior of the mantle and core, were not well understood. This information became crucial for developing a comprehensive model of plate tectonics.

5. Lack of Global Mapping: While Wegener had some evidence for continental drift, the global mapping of ocean floors and continental margins, which revealed patterns of earthquakes and volcanic activity associated with tectonic plate boundaries, was not available.

Wegener’s theory of continental drift faced significant skepticism and was not widely accepted until the development of plate tectonics in the mid-20th century, which provided the necessary explanatory frameworks and evidence for the movement of continents.