short answer

What is some of the evidence that Wegner used to support his theory of continental drift?

1 answer

Alfred Wegener provided several pieces of evidence to support his theory of continental drift, including:

  1. Fossil Evidence: Similar fossils of plants and animals, such as the Mesosaurus and Glossopteris, were found on widely separated continents, suggesting they were once connected.

  2. Geological Similarities: Matching rock formations and mountain ranges, such as the Appalachian Mountains in North America and the Caledonian Mountains in Scotland, indicated they were part of the same landmass.

  3. Paleoclimate Evidence: Evidence of past climates, like coal deposits in cold regions and glacial deposits in warm areas, suggested continents had shifted positions over time.

  4. Fit of the Continents: The jigsaw-like fit of continental coastlines, especially Africa and South America, supported the idea that they were once joined.

These points collectively indicated that continents were not fixed but had drifted apart over geological time.