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Ortelius
Abraham Ortelius makes the discovery that the continents of our beautiful fit together like a puzzle. Ortelius used the coastlines of Europe and Africa as evidence for his theory. This theory was widely accepted and modified over the years. -
Alfred Wegner
Whilst scavenging through his local library, Wegner discovers a book full of information on different organisms and fossils as well as where they reside. As curious as he was, Alfred comes up with the question on how and why the same kind of organisms and fossils exist on different lands. Just then, Wegner notices the perfect fit between South America and Africa and states that these two continents were once conjoined but separated by continental drift. This theory was thought to be false. -
Arthur Holmes
Holmes comes up with the idea of convection cells inside of our Earth's mantle are the cause of continental drift. Many people disagreed with this theory at the time but it is now widely accepted by many. -
Tharp and Heezen
Marie Tharp and Bruce Heezen work together to create and publish the very first map of the North Atlantic Ocean floor in 1959. This creation was well received due to emphasizing the existence of multiple theories -
Harry Hess
Develops the theory that Earth's crust moves away from long volcanic oceanic ridges -
Frederick J. Vine
States that if sea floor spreading exists, rock surrounding mid-ocean ridges would flaunt symmetric patterns of magnetization due to magnetic bands. This hypothesis was not well received due to lack of evidence. -
Lawrence Morley
Brings up the idea that there was a magnetic pattern of igneous rock on the ocean floor. Magma rising locked these magnetic elements. Satellites and alternating magnetic patterns were used as evidence. This theory was well received due to it adding more evidence to past theories. -
Drummond Hoyle Matthews
States that the crust surrounding mid-ocean ridges showed repeating bands due to different magnetizations. This theory wasn't well received due to lack of evidence.
