Why didn't Wegener's Continental Drift Theory gain support from scientists?

Study for the Aquatic Science Plate Tectonics Test. Explore comprehensive flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each accompanied by insights and explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Wegener's Continental Drift Theory faced significant skepticism largely because it was unable to provide a convincing mechanism for how continents could move across the Earth's surface. While the idea that continents had once been joined together and later drifted apart was appealing and supported by some geological and fossil evidence, the absence of a clear explanation of the forces or processes capable of facilitating such movement meant that many scientists were hesitant to accept the theory.

At the time Wegener proposed his ideas, the prevailing view was that the Earth's crust was rigid and that the movement of large land masses was not feasible without some form of propulsion or driving force. Therefore, the lack of a mechanism—such as the later proposed ideas of plate tectonics, which included concepts like mantle convection, slab pull, and ridge push—hindered the acceptance of Wegener's theory.

The other options highlight different aspects of the scientific discourse at the time but were not the primary reasons for the lack of support. For example, while the theory did have gaps in evidence and failed to consider certain geological features, the core issue leading to its limited acceptance was the inability to explain the movement of continents effectively.

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