Alfred Wegener (1880165438+1October1930165438+1October 2),/ Known as the "father of continental drift theory"

Alfred Wegener formally put forward the theory of continental drift in 19 12, and demonstrated it in the book Origin of Land and Sea published in 19 15. Because the mechanism of drift could not be better explained at that time, it was opposed by geophysicists. From the mid-1950s to the 1960s, with the development of paleomagnetism, seismology and space observation, the once-silent theory of continental drift was reborn and laid the foundation for the development of plate tectonics.

Evidence of continental drift theory

1, coastline

In particular, the right-angle projection of the eastern end of Brazil is very consistent with the Gulf of Guinea, which is a right-angle depression on the west coast of Africa.

2. Cross-bank structure

North America is similar to Africa and Europe in stratum, rock and structure. For example, the wrinkled mountain system in Newfoundland, North America, and the wrinkled mountain system in Scandinavia, northwest Europe, belong to the early Paleozoic orogenic belt; The late Paleozoic tectonic orientation, rock sequence and fossils in the southern tip of Africa and southern Argentina in South America are consistent.

3. Adjacent continents

Especially on both sides of the Atlantic. For example, the Carboniferous-Permian strata in Brazil and South Africa all contain a reptile-Zhonglong fossil that lives in fresh water or brackish water, but it has not been found in other parts of the world so far. For another example, fossil ferns mainly growing in cold climates are widely distributed in the Carboniferous-Permian system in Africa, South America, India, Australia, Antarctica and other continents. But these continents are located in different climatic zones.