His ideas were largely ignored at the time they were developed, but today they are widely accepted. Alfred wegener, a german meteorologist, was the first to begin to work out details to explain this interesting observation. In 1912 a german meteorologist named alfred wegener 18801931 hypothesized a single protosupercontinent that divided up into the continents we now know because of continental drift and plate tectonics. Mott greenes magnificent book reveals deep themes and connections to wegeners many fruitful ideas and extraordinary scientific accomplishments. From 1912, wegener publicly advocated the existence of continental drift, arguing that all the continents were. Alfred lothar wegener, german meteorologist, geophysicist. Alfred wegener proposed the theory of continental drift the idea that earths continents move. The text appeared first in petermanns mitteilungen 1912. This recognition is rather recent since about the early 1970s, when. Alfred wegeners most popular book is the origin of continents and oceans. Text antonio sniderpellegrinis illustration of the closed and. This was a theory he put forth in 1912 that the continents had not always been in their present.
He started the scientific debate that became the theory of plate tectonics 50 years later, in the early 1960s. In 1912 a german meteorologist named alfred wegener 18801931 hypothesized a single protosupercontinent that divided up into the continents we now know because of continental drift. German climatologist and geophysicist who, in 1915, published as expanded version of his 1912 book the origin of continents and oceans. Alfred lothar wegener 1 november 1880 in berlin 2 november 1930 was a german scientist, geologist, and meteorologist.
His theory was rejected by most geologists during his lifetime but was resurrected and made a central feature of modern geology as part of the theory of plate tectonics in the 1960s. Wegener is remembered today as the originator and one of the chief proponents of the theory of continental drift, which he conceived after being struck by the apparent correspondence in the shapes of the coastlines on the west and east sides of the atlantic, and. He found evidence that the continents had been assembled as one, a megacontinent, pangaea meaning all lands. This work was one of the first to suggest continental drift and plate tectonics. Alfred wegener was a german meteorologist who achieved fame for his theory of continental drift. Wegener 18801930 who first proposed the continental drift in 1912. Over time they have drifted apart into their current distribution. Excerpts and readings on alfred wegener 18801930 biographical note. Continental drift theory in the early 20th century, german scientist alfred wegener published a book explaining his theory that the continental landmasses, far from being immovable, were drifting across the earth. First edition in book form of the famous work on the continental drift, the mainwork of wegener.
May 15, 2019 today, wegener s ideas are highly regarded by the scientific community as an early attempt at explaining why the earth s landscape is the way it is. Wegener is remembered today as the originator and one of the chief proponents of the theory of continental drift. Wegeners most notable scientific contribution was his hypothesis of continental drifting, which he first presented in 1912 at a meeting of the german geological association. Alfred lothar wegener is known for his theory of continental drift, which postulates that the earth was a single land mass, a supercontinent which he named pangaea, which over time drifted into separate continents to their present day. A theory stating that the earth s continents were first joined together in what is called pangea, but then moved away from each other at different times in the earth s history. The speculation that continents might have drifted was first put forward by abraham ortelius in 1596. Ever since the continents were all mapped, people had noticed that many coastlines, like those of.
The theory was first proposed by alfred wegener in 1912. People noticed the similarities in the coastlines of south america and africa on the first world maps, and some suggested the continents had been ripped apart. His theory was rejected by most geologists during his lifetime but was resurrected and made a central. What evidence is there to support alfred wegeners theory. Alfred wegener 18801930 was a german scientist, geophysicist and meteorologist. In 1912 alfred wegener 18801930 noticed the same thing and proposed that the continents were once compressed into a single protocontinent which he called pangaea meaning all lands, and over time they have drifted apart into their current distribution.
Wegener published his most famous work, the origin of continents and oceans as a continuation of his 1912 theory. Alfred wegener, german meteorologist and geophysicist who formulated the first complete statement of the continental drift hypothesis. Sniderpellegrinis map showing the continental fit and separation, 1858. Richard taught classical languages in one of the most. A theory stating that the earths continents were first joined together in what is called pangea, but then moved away from each other at different times in the earths history. She has been featured by npr and national geographic for her ancient history expertise. In 1922, however, a third revised edition was translated into. Wegener believed that continental drift was the result of centrifugal force and tidal attraction, but the scientific community. His polar expeditions are also highly admired and today the alfred wegener institute for polar and marine research is known for its highquality research in the arctic and the antarctic.
Using this pioneering interdisciplinary approach, wegener wrote one of the most influential and controversial books in the history of science. Alfred wegner was born, in an affluent german family, in the capital city of berlin, on november 1, 1880. The origins of this theory comes from the continental drift theory, which was introduced in 1912 by german scientist alfred wegener. January 6, 1912 the german meteorologist alfred wegener. The reaction to alfred wegeners theory tells us much about the workings of science. All of these facts supported wegeners theory of continental drift.
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. In this video we will learn how alfred wegener proposed a theory in 1912 that the great continents of the earth had drifted over geological time and were once all joined together in a giant land. Early evidence for continental drift hypothesis figure. Alfred lothar wegener was a german polar researcher, geophysicist and meteorologist. Asked in science, ancient history, earth sciences, pangaea supercontinent.
If youve been following my past weeks posts, you saw alfred wegener enter our story as a meteorologist, you saw how fossils and climate inspired his theory, then looked at the publication of wegeners papers and book between 1912 and 1915, and yesterday, you read about the ugly rejection of his drift theory. Oct 01, 2017 in this video we will learn how alfred wegener proposed a theory in 1912 that the great continents of the earth had drifted over geological time and were once all joined together in a giant land. In 1922, however, a third revised edition was translated into english, french, russian, spanish, and swedish, pushing wegeners theory of continental drift to the forefront of debate in the earth sciences. This hypothesis is called pangaea because the greek word pan means all and gaea or gaia or ge was the greek name of the divine personification of. Januar 1912 stellte er bereits seine ersten gedanken zur kontinentalverschiebung. When german meteorologist alfred wegener first proposed his groundbreaking theory of continental displacement, later called continental drift, in 1912, his geologist peers rejected his theory because the field of geology at the turn of the century was based in 18th and 19thcentury observations about the nature of the earth and the planets development. Alfred wegeners hypothesis on continental drift and its. Alfred wegener s contemporaries rejected his theory of continental drift because it challenged many established scientific theories at the time, and he lacked a compelling explanation for the cause of continental drift. His lectures formed the basis of what was to become a standard textbook in meteorology, first written in 19091910. Ever since the continents were all mapped, people had noticed that many coastlines, like those of south america and africa, looked as though they. Alfred wegener studied astronomy but pursued a career in meteorology, and at a 1912 meeting of the german geological society he because the first scientist to propose a theory of continental drift, which he detailed in a book four years later. Dismissing the concept of sunken land bridges, he proposed instead a grand vision of drifting continents and. Antonio sniderpellegrini did preliminary work on continental.
Alfred wegener was born in berlin on 1 november 1880 as the youngest of five children in a clergyman s family. Brazil and africa, in 1911 the meteorologist alfred wegener was nevertheless among the. Alfred wegener november 1, 1880november 1930 was a german meteorologist and geophysicist who developed the first theory of continental drift and formulated the idea that a supercontinent known as pangaea existed on the earth millions of years ago. Continental drift is the theory that the earth s continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have drifted across the ocean bed. In 1912 the meteorologist alfred wegener independently developed what he called continental drift, expanded in his 1915 book the origin of continents and oceans. German climatologist and geophysicist who, in 1915, published as expanded version of his 1912 book the origin of continents and. Today, alfred wegeners name appears in almost every geology textbook. Just a few months later, on january 6, 1912, wegener startled a meeting of the geological association in frankfurt with his radical theory. Alfredwegenerinstitut at the beginning of 1912 he introduced to the public for the first time his considerations for the continental movement.
Wegeners death and drifts hiatus the mountain mystery. It was only in the 1960s that continental drift finally became part of mainstream science. He is celebrated as the father of the continental drift hypothesis, the forerunner of plate tectonics. Essay about alfred wegener and the continental drift. Wegeners supporting facts include fossil evidence, land features, climate evidence, and sea floor spreading. In 1912 alfred wegener 18801930 noticed the same thing and proposed that the continents were once compressed into a single protocontinent which he called pangaea meaning all lands, and over time they have drifted apart into their. The speculation that continents might have drifted was first put forward by. Dec 19, 2017 continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on earth s surface. About 300 million years ago, claimed wegener, the continents had formed a single mass, called pangaea. Alfred wegener gave many facts that help prove his continental drift theory.
Books by alfred wegener author of the origin of continents. On 6 january 1912 wegener presented a startling new vision of crustal history. Early in the 20th century alfred wegener proposed strongly, with good evidence as follows, published in 1912, that the continents had moved around continental drift. It was only in the 1960s that continental drift finally became part of mainstream. In 1912, alfred wegener proposed a theory that the continents had once been joined, and over time had drifted apart. During the years from 1912 to 19 wegener took part for the second time in an expedition to greenland. He is most notable for his 1912 theory of continental drift, which.
The scientific life of alfred wegener timeline timetoast. To begin with, the current geologic theory was that the crust was all. Why was alfred wegeners continental drift theory rejected. Gill is a latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and latin. The reaction to alfred wegener s theory tells us much about the workings of science.
Alfred wegener institut at the beginning of 1912 he introduced to the public for the first time his considerations for the continental movement. Alfred wegener has 15 books on goodreads with 424 ratings. In 1915 the first edition of the origin of continents and oceans, a book outlining wegeners theory, was published. January 6, 1912 the german meteorologist alfred wegener presented in a public lecture his ideas of former supercontinents breakups and. Alfred wegeners lost cause for his continental drift theory. The origin of continents and oceans dover earth science. The name pangaeapangea is derived from ancient greek pan, all, entire, whole and gaia. He was the fifth child of churchman richard and housemaker anna wegener. Alfred wegener was born on november 1, 1880 in berlin, germany. In line with other previous and contemporaneous proposals, in 1912 the meteorologist alfred wegener amply described what he called continental drift, expanded in his 1915 book the origin of continents and oceans and the scientific debate started that would end up fifty years later in the theory of plate tectonics. Wegeners first piece of evidence was that the coastlines of some continents fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. First edition, journal issues in the original printed wrappers. This was a theory he put forth in 1912 that the continents had not. What idea did alfred wegener propose in 1912 answers.
Alfred wegener biography childhood, life achievements. He searched the scientific literature for geological and paleontological evidence. If youve been following my past weeks posts, you saw alfred wegener enter our story as a meteorologist, you saw how fossils and climate inspired his theory, then looked at the publication of wegeners papers and book between 1912 and. The present first edition is much rarer than the journal issue. Set forth in 1912 by alfred wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also. In 1915 he published his evidence and conclusions in a nowclassic book. Richard taught classical languages in one of the most prestigious educational institute, evangelisches gymnasium zum grauen kloster, of germany.
In the beginning of wegeners research to prove his continental drift theory, he found clues from fossil evidence from millions of years ago. This recognition is rather recent since about the early 1970s, when plate tectonics became a unifying theory to explain the origins of continents, oceans, mountains, volcanism and many other geologic processes. The origin of continents and oceans, published in 1915. Continental drift is the theory that the earths continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have drifted across the ocean bed. Alfred wegeners contemporaries rejected his theory of continental drift because it challenged many established scientific theories at the time, and he lacked a compelling explanation for the cause of continental drift. He called this movement continental drift wegener noticed that the coasts of western africa and eastern south america looked like the edges of. Plate tectonics in 1912 the meteorologist alfred wegener. Because of the first world war, wegeners book went unnoticed outside germany. Jan 06, 2017 january 6, 1912 the german meteorologist alfred wegener presented in a public lecture his ideas of former supercontinents breakups and moving continents. Wegners father was a classical languages teacher and pastor. What is a description of wegener and what did he theorize. Nov 24, 2019 alfred wegener proposed the theory of continental drift the idea that earths continents move. His father, richard wegener, was a theologian and teacher of classical languages at the berlinisches gymnasium zum grauen kloster.