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 continental drift hypothesis by suggesting in 1912 that the continents are slowly drifting around the Earth (German: Kontinentalverschiebung).
Life and Career
His hypothesis was not accepted by mainstream geology until the 1960s, when numerous discoveries such as palaeomagnetism provided strong support for continental drift, and thereby a substantial basis for today's model of plate tectonics.
Wegener was involved in several expeditions to Greenland to study polar air circulation before the existence of the jet stream was accepted. Expedition participants made many meteorological observations and were the first to overwinter on the inland Greenland ice sheet and the first to bore ice cores on a moving Arctic glacier.
Key Facts
- Born: November 1, 1880 in Berlin, German Empire
- Died: 1930
- Field: Science
Legacy and Impact
The influence of Alfred Wegener extends far beyond their own lifetime. They fundamentally shaped our understanding of the natural world, and their discoveries and theories remain foundational to this day.
Vingt questions, huit minutes au chronomètre et un centile mesuré face à tous ceux qui l’ont passé. Sans inscription.
Passer le test de QI →Though they passed away in 1930, their ideas continue to be studied, debated, and built upon by scholars and practitioners worldwide.
Alfred Wegener remains one of the most celebrated minds to emerge from Germany, a testament to the rich intellectual heritage of the region.
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