History of The Theory of Plate Tectonics

Alfred Wegener proposed the idea that all the lands were once connected

Aug 28, 1912

He had two peices of evidence

1. The continents seemed to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle
2. Fossils of the same prehistoric species were found on continents that were a long way apart. Wegener could see no other explanation for the distribution of these fossils other that the continents themselves moving.

Wegner published a book titled "The Origins Of Continents And Oceans"

Aug 28, 1915

It was considered the start of modern plate tectonics even though it was accepyed in the 1960s

In 1930 his ideas were dismissed completely and he died in greenland

Aug 28, 1930

Wegener passed away on an expedition in greenland where he was finding evidence to support his theory

The theory was only accepted in 1960 with the help of Arthur Holmes

Aug 28, 1960

Arthur Holmes continued on with Wegeners hypothesis and gathered more evidence which led to the theories acceptance

Harry Hess and R.Deitz made similar theores

Aug 28, 1961

Harry Hess in 1961 and R.Deitz in 1962 made theories that relate to what's now called seafloor spreading