Alfred wegener showed you a map of everything he found on certain continents, but he did not have an other evidence, would you believe his theory that the continents had moved? Please explain
If Alfred Wegener showed me a map of the continents and claimed that they had moved, but did not present any other evidence, it would be difficult for me to believe his theory solely based on that. While maps showing the apparent fit of the continents are intriguing, they are insufficient as the sole evidence for a theory as significant as continental drift.
Scientific theories require multiple lines of evidence to be considered credible and widely accepted. In the case of Wegener's theory of continental drift, there are several additional types of evidence that emerged over time, supporting his ideas. These pieces of evidence include:
1. Fossil Evidence: Wegener noticed that similar fossil species were found in different continents that were now separated by oceans. For example, fossils of the reptile Mesosaurus were found in both South America and Africa. The distribution of such fossils provided evidence of past connections between today's separated continents.
2. Rock Formations: Wegener observed that similar rock formations and mountain ranges seemed to continue across different continents that are now apart. For instance, the Appalachian Mountains in Eastern North America seemed to connect with the Caledonian Mountains in Greenland, the British Isles, and Scandinavia. This was suggestive of a shared geological history.
3. Paleoclimatic Evidence: The distribution of ancient climate indicators, such as coal deposits and glacial striations, revealed that regions that are now distant from each other had experienced similar climatic conditions in the past. Wegener argued that this implied the continents were once closer together.
4. Geophysical Evidence: Later studies in the mid-20th century provided further support for continental drift. The discovery of seafloor spreading and plate tectonics explained how the continents could move over time. It provided a mechanism through which continents could drift apart and come together.
Considering the weight of evidence that emerged after Wegener's initial proposal, it is highly unlikely that just a map showing the fit of the continents alone would be sufficient to convince scientists and the general scientific community today. Wegener's map was an interesting observation, but it required additional evidence from various fields of study to establish the theory of continental drift as a widely accepted scientific principle.