What discoveries did Alfred Wegener discover?
Lived 1880 – 1930. Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift – the idea that Earth’s continents move. Despite publishing a large body of compelling fossil and rock evidence for his theory between 1912 and 1929, it was rejected by most other scientists.
Where did Alfred Wegener make his discoveries?
Wegener experimented with kites and balloons, and with his brother Kurt set a world record in an international balloon contest, flying 52 hours straight. That was in 1906, the year he made his first expedition to Greenland. He went as the official meteorologist on a two-year Danish expedition.
What two ideas was Alfred Wegener most known for?
| Alfred Wegener | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | University of Berlin (Ph.D.) |
| Known for | Continental drift theory |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Meteorology, Geology, Astronomy |
What did Alfred Wegener do?
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’s theory of Continental Drift was met with scepticism by many scientists. …
What was Alfred Wegener’s theory?
In the early 20th century, Wegener published a paper explaining his theory that the continental landmasses were “drifting” across the Earth, sometimes plowing through oceans and into each other. He called this movement continental drift.
What made Alfred Wegener famous?
Alfred Wegener (1880–1930) became internationally known for his heavily disputed theory of continental drift, which he formulated as early as 1912.
What were Alfred Wegener accomplishments?
Alfred Wegener, in full Alfred Lothar Wegener, (born November 1, 1880, Berlin, Germany—died November 1930, Greenland), German meteorologist and geophysicist who formulated the first complete statement of the continental drift hypothesis. The son of an orphanage director, Wegener earned a Ph.
Why is Alfred Wegener well known?
What is an interesting fact about Alfred Wegener?
Alfred Lothar Wegener (1 November 1880 – 13 November 1930) was a German scientist and meteorologist. He is most notable for his theory of continental drift, which he proposed in December 1912. This was the idea that the continents were slowly drifting around the Earth.
What was Wegener’s evidence for his theory?
Wegener used fossil evidence to support his continental drift hypothesis. The fossils of these organisms are found on lands that are now far apart. Grooves and rock deposits left by ancient glaciers are found today on different continents very close to the equator.
Why did scientists reject Wegener’s theory?
The main reason that Wegener’s hypothesis was not accepted was because he suggested no mechanism for moving the continents. He thought the force of Earth’s spin was sufficient to cause continents to move, but geologists knew that rocks are too strong for this to be true.
What are 3 facts about Alfred Wegener?
He made three more expeditions to Greenland, in 1912–13, 1929, and 1930. He taught meteorology at Marburg and Hamburg and was a professor of meteorology and geophysics at the University of Graz from 1924 to 1930. He died during his last expedition to Greenland in 1930.
Who was Alfred Wegener and what was his background?
Alfred Wegener: Beginnings. Alfred Wegener was born on November 1, 1880, in Germany’s capital city, Berlin. His father, Richard Wegener, was a classical languages teacher and pastor. His mother, Anna Wegener, was a housewife. The Wegener family of two adults and five children – Alfred was the youngest – was well-off financially.
When did Alfred Lothar Wegener die in Greenland?
But he never made it; his body was found the next summer. Alfred Wegener (left) and an Innuit guide on 1 November 1930 during his final meteorological expedition in Greenland. This is one of the last photographs of Wegener, who died later during the expedition (see text).
When did Alfred Lothar Wegener become interested in meteorology?
Wegener obtained his doctorate in planetary astronomy in 1905 but soon became interested in meteorology; during his lifetime, he participated in several meteorologic expeditions to Greenland.
How did Alfred Wegener contribute to the theory of continental drift?
During his lifetime he was primarily known for his achievements in meteorology and as a pioneer of polar research, but today he is most remembered as the originator of the theory of continental drift by hypothesizing in 1912 that the continents are slowly drifting around the Earth (German: Kontinentalverschiebung).