1. Glacial Deposits in Unexpected Locations:
* Wegener observed evidence of ancient glaciers (glacial striations, till deposits) in areas like South America, Africa, India, and Australia. These areas are currently located in tropical or subtropical regions, where glaciers would be impossible today.
* This suggested that these continents were once located closer to the South Pole, where glaciers could form, and then drifted to their current positions.
2. Fossil Evidence of Tropical Climates in Polar Regions:
* He found fossil evidence of tropical plants and animals, like ferns and reptiles, in regions like Greenland and Antarctica.
* This indicated that these areas were once located in warmer, tropical regions, supporting the idea of continental drift.
3. Coal Deposits in Cold Regions:
* The presence of vast coal deposits in regions like Greenland and Antarctica, formed from ancient swamp forests, indicated that these regions were once located in warm, tropical environments where lush vegetation could thrive. This contradicted the idea that these regions were always in their current positions.
4. Rock Formations Across Continents:
* Wegener also noted similarities in rock formations and geological structures on different continents, which seemed to fit together like pieces of a puzzle. This provided further evidence that the continents were once connected.
In summary, Wegener's use of climate evidence in rocks, including glacial deposits, tropical fossils, and coal deposits, strongly supported his hypothesis of continental drift. He argued that these inconsistencies in climate evidence could only be explained by the movement of the continents over time.
