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Born November 1, 1880
Alfred Wegener was born November 1, 1880 in Berlin, Germany with his father who was a minister and ran an orphanage. -
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Alfred Wegener
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Ph.D in astronomy
Alfred studied astronomy in 1905 and earned his Ph.d, but he was always interested in the fields of meterology and climatology. -
The beginning of the Continental Drift theroy
In 1912, Alfred publicly advocated the theory of "continental drift". After noticing that the different large landmasses of the Earth seem to fit together, he searched for strong physical evidence to support his theory. During his speech, he argued that the contients were once joined toghther in a single landmass and have drifted apart. -
The Origins of Continents and Oceans
In 1915, Alfred gathered evidence from various fields, and in "The Origins of Continents and Oceans" he published the theory there had once been a giant contient he named "Pangaea". -
Reaction to the Continetal Drift theroy
Alfred presented strong evidence in support of continental drift, but was generally met with skepticism from largely conservative scientists. In 1925, one American edtion of Alfred's work recieved such critisism, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists argued the oceanic crust was too "firm" for the continents to "simply plough through". -
Died November 30, 1930
In 1930 Alfred sailed from Denmark as the leader of his forth and last expedition to Germany. He celebrated his fiftieth birthday on Nov. 1, but shortly afterwards the team got separated, and he was lost in a blizzard. -
A Different Reaction
In the early 1950's, the new science of paleomagnetism pioneered by scientits at Cambrige University and Imperial College were soon producing data in favor of Alfred's theory. -
More New Evidence
By early 1953 samples taken from India showed that the country had previously been in the Southern hemisphere by Alfred. -
The Continental Drift theroy, a major scientific revolution
The 1960's saw several developments in geology leading to the resurrection of the continential drift hypothesis. Alfred was quickly recognized as a founding father of one of the major scientific revolutions of the 20th century. -
Finally Changing Minds
Alfred's theory had enouh supporting data that miinds were starting to change, particulary in the U.K. where in 1964, the Royal society held a symposium on the subject. -
The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Reserch
The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Reserch in Bremerhaven, Germany was established in 1980 on Alfred's centenary, awarding the Wegener Medel inhis name.
