\( 17 / 20 \) Wegener found massive coal deposits in Antarctica, which proved which of the following theories? A large biodiverse ecosystem used to thrive there millions of years ago Most coal deposits came from pioneer settlements on antarctica from early exploration There used to be a large forest fire that burned through antarctica before it froze over The Continent of Antarctica used to be located closer to the equator causing life to flourish None of the above

Wegener's discovery of coal deposits in Antarctica provided significant evidence supporting the theory that Antarctica once had a much warmer climate and was located near the equator, where lush forests thrived. The presence of coal, formed from ancient plant material, indicates that a biodiverse ecosystem existed millions of years ago, highlighting the dramatic changes in the planet's climate over time. Wegener's continental drift theory suggested that all continents were once connected in a supercontinent known as Pangaea. As the continents drifted apart, those ecosystems drastically changed. His findings in Antarctica helped bolster the argument for continental movement, as the once tropical conditions couldn’t survive in the continent's current frigid state.