Why was the hypothesis of continental drift rejected?
The main reason that Wegener’s hypothesis was not accepted was because he suggested no mechanism for moving the continents. He thought the force of Earth’s spin was sufficient to cause continents to move, but geologists knew that rocks are too strong for this to be true.
Why was Alfred Wegener’s hypothesis of continental drift rejected quizlet?
Why was Wegener’s idea of continental drift rejected? because he could not come up with a mechanism to describe how the continents were moved.
What are two pieces of evidence for continental drift?
The evidence for continental drift included the fit of the continents; the distribution of ancient fossils, rocks, and mountain ranges; and the locations of ancient climatic zones.
Are the continents floating?
The continents do not float on a sea of molten rock. Under the continents is a layer of solid rock known as the upper mantle or asthenosphere. Though solid, this layer is weak and ductile enough to slowly flow under heat convection, causing the tectonic plates to move.
What if there were no plate tectonics?
Earth’s oceans might not exist if water were not periodically subsumed by the planet’s mantle and then released. Without plate tectonics driving the creation of coastlines and the motion of the tides, the oceans might be barren, with life-giving nutrients relegated forever to the stygian depths.
What would happen if plate tectonics didn’t exist?
Without plate tectonics, Earth would not have its diverse geography, which provides a wide range of habitats. Plate tectonics is also responsible for hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor.
What are the benefits of plate tectonics?
Scientists think plate tectonics, which acts as a global thermostat, might have been our savior by creating volcanoes that spewed carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, helping it to retain more heat.
What natural disasters are caused by plate tectonics?
Events such as earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis all result because of plate tectonics.