Final answer:
Alfred Wegener was the main proponent of the theory of continental drift, presenting evidence such as the fit of continent coastlines, fossil records, and paleoclimate data to support his hypothesis of a supercontinent called Pangaea.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main proponent of the theory of continental drift was Alfred Wegener. Wegener, a German meteorologist, and astronomer, first conceptualized this idea after noticing the congruent shapes of the continents. His hypothesis was based on several pieces of evidence:
- The apparent fit of the continental coastlines, like pieces of a puzzle.
- Matching fossils on continents separated by oceans.
- Similar mountain ranges on continents now divided by seas.
- Paleoclimate data indicating previous positions of the continents closer to the polar regions or near the equator.
Wegener's theory was groundbreaking when he published his findings in 1915. He proposed that all the continents were once a part of a gigantic supercontinent named Pangaea, which existed around 200 million years ago. Despite the initial skepticism from the scientific community due to the lack of a mechanism to explain the continental movement, Wegener's concept laid the foundation for the modern understanding of plate tectonics.