Alfred Wegener didn't actually "prove" the theory of continental drift. He proposed it in 1912, but his evidence was largely circumstantial and not widely accepted by the scientific community at the time.

Here's why:

* Lack of a Mechanism: Wegener couldn't explain *how* the continents moved. He proposed that the continents plowed through the ocean floor, which was scientifically implausible.

* Limited Evidence: His evidence, while compelling, was considered insufficient by many scientists. This included:

* Matching coastlines: The fit of the continents, particularly South America and Africa, suggested they were once joined.

* Fossil Distribution: Identical fossil species were found on continents now separated by vast oceans, indicating they were once connected.

* Geological Structures: Matching mountain ranges and rock formations were found on continents now separated, suggesting they were once part of a single landmass.

* Climate Evidence: Evidence of ancient glaciers and tropical climates found on continents now in different climate zones supported the idea of continental movement.

While Wegener was correct in his basic idea, his inability to provide a plausible mechanism for continental drift contributed to the widespread rejection of his theory during his lifetime.

The Acceptance of Continental Drift:

The theory of continental drift was later accepted after the development of the theory of plate tectonics in the 1960s. Plate tectonics provided the mechanism Wegener lacked by showing that the Earth's crust is made up of large plates that move and interact with each other. This movement is driven by convection currents in the Earth's mantle.

In summary, Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift, but it was not fully accepted until the development of plate tectonics, which provided a credible explanation for how the continents move.