What is Alfred Wegener's theory about the continents called?

Alfred Wegener's theory about the continents is known as "continental drift." This concept, introduced in the early 20th century, posits that the continents were once part of a single supercontinent, which he named Pangaea. Over millions of years, Pangaea fragmented and the continents drifted to their current positions. Wegener's theory was revolutionary at the time, as it challenged the prevailing view that continents and oceans were fixed.

Continental drift provides a foundational understanding of how and why continents change position over geological time, offering insights into the movement of Earth's tectonic plates. Wegener's ideas laid the groundwork for the later development of the plate tectonics theory, which explains the mechanisms underlying continental drift and expands on Wegener's initial concepts. This theory of plate tectonics synthesizes various geological and geophysical principles to provide a comprehensive model of Earth's dynamic processes.