When did the theory of plate techtonics become a theory?

Question

When did the theory of plate techtonics become a theory?

Answer 1

Alfred Wegener improved the theory of plate tectonic. The idea was really reconized in the 60's. He was the one who came up with the idea of Pangea. When looking for information about continental drift.

Answer 2

Not sure, but it was about 1960 I think.

Definitely somwhere about then.

It took getting the technology to actually measure the predicted movement of the plates to make plate tectonics a theory instead of a hypothesis.

Answer 3

When we started getting seismograph from the year1935.

Answer 4

Well, as with all new ideas, it started out as a theory, but it appears that a lot of sites are still calling it that.  Thankfully, the USGS isn't:  "Understanding plate motions ... Plate tectonics and people ... current plate movements, and locations of volcanoes, earthquakes, and impact craters. ...".  It is accepted as fact in most cases, but perhaps some people are just stuck on calling it a theory.  "Plate tectonics is a relatively new theory that has revolutionized the way geologists think about the Earth. According to the theory, the surface of the ..."

Answer 5

As I recall, it became a "new"  popular theory in the mid to late 60's.