Question
what two pieces of evidence did Wagener use to defend his Continental Drift theory?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Alfred Wegener, who proposed the Continental Drift theory in the early 20th century, used several pieces of evidence to support his hypothesis. Two key pieces of evidence he presented were:
1. **Fossil Correlations**: Wegener noted that identical fossils of certain plants and animals were found on widely separated continents, such as South America and Africa. For example, the fossilized remains of the Mesosaurus, a freshwater reptile, were discovered in both South America and Africa, suggesting that these continents were once connected, allowing for the migration of species.
2. **Geological and Rock Formations**: Wegener observed that the mountain ranges and geological structures across continents aligned with one another when the continents were fitted together. For instance, he noted that the Appalachian Mountains in North America matched the Scottish Highlands in terms of age and geological composition, indicating that they were once part of a continuous mountain range before the continents drifted apart.
These pieces of evidence, among others, were critical in proposing the idea that continents were not static but had moved over geological time. However, it's important to note that Wegener's theory was met with skepticism during his time due to a lack of a mechanism for how the continents could move, which wasn't resolved until later with the development of plate tectonics.
1. **Fossil Correlations**: Wegener noted that identical fossils of certain plants and animals were found on widely separated continents, such as South America and Africa. For example, the fossilized remains of the Mesosaurus, a freshwater reptile, were discovered in both South America and Africa, suggesting that these continents were once connected, allowing for the migration of species.
2. **Geological and Rock Formations**: Wegener observed that the mountain ranges and geological structures across continents aligned with one another when the continents were fitted together. For instance, he noted that the Appalachian Mountains in North America matched the Scottish Highlands in terms of age and geological composition, indicating that they were once part of a continuous mountain range before the continents drifted apart.
These pieces of evidence, among others, were critical in proposing the idea that continents were not static but had moved over geological time. However, it's important to note that Wegener's theory was met with skepticism during his time due to a lack of a mechanism for how the continents could move, which wasn't resolved until later with the development of plate tectonics.