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1596 : The World As A Jig-saw Puzzle
During the late 1500's, Abraham Ortelius, a Flemish Mapmaker, recognised that the Earth's continental coast lines had similar formations, and thus proposed the theory that America had once separated from the west coast of Africa and Europe. However, the theory that these continents could have once been connected was rejected for hundreds of years, and was instead replaced with the more dominate claim that Earth's continents had always remained in a fixed position. -
Before 1910 : A Time When The Continents Were 'Fixed'
Prior to the year 1910, the majority of scientists believed that Earth's continents had always remained in a fixed position. The original theory behind why similar fossils had been discovered amongst the coast line of multiple continents, such as Brazil and Africa, was explained through the connection of previous land bridges which according to scientists, had eroded overtime. However, due to Alfred Wegner's developing hypothesis, this brief understanding of Earth's continents would soon shift. -
1910 - 1911: Wegner's Realisation
Alfred Wegner first considered and established his Continental Drift concept during the year of 1910. However, after realising it's complication, decided to reject his theory until the following year of 1911, when he accidentally came across an unexpected report, causing him to revisited the concept he had briefly developed. The article not only supplied Wegner with confirming evidence that Africa and Brazil once connected, but also inspired him to undertake geological and paleontological study. -
1915: Wegner's Publication
After five years of geological, paleontological, and oceanic research, Alfred Wegner decided to publicly release and announce his theory regarded as The Continental Drift; a concept which states that "Earth's continents had once been connected but moved slowly apart and across Earth’s surface over millions of years". Whilst Wegner's publication branched beyond previous observations regarding the continents and their formations, his hypothesis was also the catalyst of many scientific debates. -
1915: Wegner's Diagrams
During 1915, Alfred Wegner also decided to include multiple diagrams of continental movement within his published book, 'The Origin of the Continents and Oceans'. Through the use of his diagrams and sketches, Wegner was able to support and explain his Continental Drift claims in further depth. His hypothesis was further extended in 1915 after another diagram was published, illustrating fossil remains and the similar areas they occupy amongst the once connected continents. -
1915: A Time of Scientific Debate
Whilst the public release of Alfred Wegner's book in 1915 allowed for a new perspective regarding Earth's shifting formation, it also became a catalyst for scientific debate. 1915 was not only a year of success, but was also a year which brought forth many unanswered questions, the greatest one being- How did the continents shift?Geologists such as F. Debenham and G.W. Lamplugh investigated further into Wegner's theory, however, could only conclude that, "in essential points, Wegner was wrong". -
1915: Finding An Explanation
Whilst many scientists respected Wegner's claim and thus tried to search for an explanation as to "how the continents managed to shift", many investigations left scientists confused and often opposed to Wegner's theory. For example, Franz Kossmatt, a German geologists and scientists who disputed Wegner's claim, concluded from his observations that "the oceanic crust was too firm for the continents to "simply plough through". -
1959: Supporting Evidence
Whilst Wegner's hypothesis brought decades of confusion and unanswered questions, the theory of paleomagnetism (Earth’s magnetic field) was established 35 years later, confirming Wegner's claim that the continents had once obtained different positions. Additionally, Harry Hess contributed to the reasoning behind the Continental Drift in 1959 through his development of the seafloor spreading concept; when new ocean floor is created by the process of seeping magma through mid-ocean ridges. -
1959 - 1963: Vine-Matthews-Morley Hypothesis
Hess' hypothesis in 1959 was often rejected as floor data was limited and thus unreliable. However, Paleomagnetists began to contribute to his theory, realising that Earth's magnetic field shifts every 450,000 years. Additionally, F. Vine, L. Morley, and D. Matthews established the Vine-Matthews-Morley hypothesis in 1963 which states that past reversals of the magnetic field can be recorded through the study of ocean-floor rocks because the ocean floor is constantly forming in mid-ocean ridges. -
1969 - 1988: Continental Drift Becomes A Generally Accepted Theory
Due to the confirmation of the Vine-Matthews-Morley hypothesis, Hess' claim and Wegner's original theory were finally accepted. As a repercussion, new concepts were developed such as theories regarding plate tectonic movement- "Moving plates, like evolving species, have become accepted as fact". (Henry Frankel, 1988). Additionally, Fred Vine claimed that the continental drift became a convincing 'reality' by 1969 due to "compelling evidence for seafloor spreading" (Fred Vine, 1977).
