Why is Alfred Wegener important?

Wegener was a German meteorologist, geophysicist and polar researcher. In 1915 he published ‘The Origin of Continents and Oceans’, which outlined his theory of Continental Drift. Wegener was a member of four expeditions to Greenland. Wegener’s theory of Continental Drift was met with scepticism by many scientists.

What were Alfred Wegener’s areas of expertise?

3. Wegener studied and used several different fields of science in his work. His main areas of expertise were astronomy and meteorology, however he also explored paleontology (fossils), geology, and climatology as he gathered evidence for his drifting‑continent theory.

What was Alfred Wegener personal life?

Alfred Wegener was born in Berlin in 1880, where his father was a minister who ran an orphanage. From an early age he took an interest in Greenland, and always walked, skated, and hiked as though training for an expedition. He studied in Germany and Austria, receiving his PhD in astronomy.

What was the response to Wegener’s hypothesis?

“That was always his response: Just assert it again, even more strongly.” By the time Wegener published the final version of his theory, in 1929, he was certain it would sweep other theories aside and pull together all the accumulating evidence into a unifying vision of the earth’s history.

What are some interesting facts about Alfred Wegener?

Facts about Alfred Wegener were a meteorologist, polar researcher and geophysicist from Germany. He was born on 1 November 1880 and passed away on November 1930. He was famous with his Kontinentalverschiebung or theory of continental drift that he made in 1912.

Why was Alfred Wegener’s continental drift theory rejected?

Wegener’s Continental Drift Theory was largely rejected. The primary reason for its rejection was his inability to provide a mechanism by which the continents could move.

What evidence did Alfred Wegener have?

Evidence of Continental. As a meteorologist Alfred Wegener was well aware of some climatological puzzles, such as the remains of temperate climate trees that can be found under polar ice. From this he began plotting world-wide distributions of both rock and fossil data that indicated tropic, desert and polar climates.

What was Alfred Wegener’s childhood like?

Alfred Lothar Wegener was born on November 1, 1880, in Berlin, Germany. During his childhood, Wegener’s father ran an orphanage . Wegener took an interest in physical and earth sciences and studied these subjects at universities in both Germany and Austria. He graduated with a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Berlin in 1905.