Evidence of Continental Drift

Observations:

• noticed that rocks of similar type and formation existed in Canada and in Scandinavia as well as other locations

• same species of fossils found on different continents, sometimes in locations where they never could have existed, such as tropical plant fossils in Antarctica

• deposits left behind by glaciers also appeared on different continents like Africa and South America 

• coastlines of different continents matched like puzzle pieces

in the current model of stationary earth surface, this data did not make much sense because there was no theory that adequately explained how continents separated by great distances and vast oceans could produce these similarities

he proposed a radical new theory - that the continents were connected at one time in Earth's history and have drifted to their present location

Wegener concluded that the continents were at one time all together in a giant supercontinent and that somehow they broke apart and migrated to their present location

Trouble with the Theory

his theory was initially rejected

Wegener had no convincing evidence for HOW the continents might actually move from place to place.

he could not explain what caused/causes the continents to move

as countries began to map the ocean floor after World War II, additional surprising clues from the geography of the ocean floor were brought to the surface, which would ultimately provide a mechanism for his theory and lead to ultimate vindication