Final answer:
Alfred Wegener supported his continental drift theory with evidence such as the similar shapes of coastlines, matching fossil records, and geological features across continents, as well as paleoclimate data, leading to the idea of Pangea.
Step-by-step explanation:
Evidence Supporting Continental Drift Theory
When Alfred Wegener proposed the continental drift theory, he presented several key pieces of evidence to support his hypothesis that the continents were once joined together in a supercontinent called Pangea. The evidence he used included:
- The similar shapes of continental coastlines, suggest they once fit together.
- Fossil distribution analysis showing identical species on continents now separated by oceans.
- Matching geological features, such as mountain ranges across these separate landmasses.
- Paleoclimate data indicating past climatic conditions were different from the current ones based on their positions.
Despite the strong evidence, Wegener's hypothesis was initially met with scepticism because he couldn't provide a mechanism for the movement of continents. It was only with later discoveries, such as seafloor spreading in the 1960s, that a comprehensive theory of plate tectonics was developed, substantiating Wegener's ideas.