The gradual movement of Earth's continents relative to one another across geological time, first proposed as a coherent theory by Alfred Wegener in 1912 from the fit of coastlines and matching fossil and rock records across oceans. It was later explained mechanistically by plate tectonics and seafloor spreading, which showed continents riding passively atop moving tectonic plates rather than plowing through oceanic crust.
Facts
Process Type First Proposed Year Scientific Consensus Year Timescale
Timescale (category) Continental Drift
Filter Results1 entry
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Associated With
Source Supercontinent Cycle (Wikipedia)
Shaped
Source Neotropical realm (Wikipedia)
Source Peninsula - Wikipedia
Sources
1. Continental drift (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia infobox 'Lead section' = 'Continental drift is the movement of Earth's continents relative to...' on 'Continental drift'View the Source 2. Continental drift, Wikipedia
Road to acceptance, Modern evidence
By 1967, barely two decades after discovery of the mid-oceanic rifts, and a decade after discovery of the striping, plate tectonics had become axiomatic to modern geophysics.
Lead section
The concept was independently and more fully developed by Alfred Wegener in 1912, and expanded into book form with his 1915 publication, Die Entstehung der Kontinente und Ozeane (The Origin of Continents and Oceans). However, at that time his hypothesis was rejected by many, largely because there was no known geological mechanism which could propel such massive movements.
Road to acceptance, Modern evidence, second citation
By 1967, barely two decades after discovery of the mid-oceanic rifts, and a decade after discovery of the striping, plate tectonics had become axiomatic to modern geophysics.
View the SourceSupercontinent Cycle (Wikipedia)
Neotropical realm (Wikipedia)
Shaped: Neotropical realm, Formation statement for target 287642Quote, Shaped: Neotropical realm, Formation statement for target 287642
After the final breakup of the Gondwana about 110 million years ago, South America was separated from Africa and drifted north and west.
Peninsula - Wikipedia
WikipediaShaped: Peninsula, Formation and types sectionQuote, Shaped: Peninsula, Formation and types section
Peninsulas can be formed by continental drift, glacial erosion, glacial meltwater, glacial deposition, marine sediment, marine transgressions, volcanoes, divergent boundaries or river sedimentation.
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