About

Born in 1880, Wegener received a degree in physics and was initially interested in meteorology before developing a fascination with the Earth's geological processes. He proposed the revolutionary idea that the Earth's continents were once united in a single landmass called Pangaea and had gradually drifted apart over millions of years. Wegener's theory of continental drift was met with skepticism and ridicule at first, as it challenged the prevailing belief in stationary continents. However, he gathered substantial evidence from different fields such as geology, paleontology, and glaciology to support his hypothesis. His book "The Origin of Continents and Oceans," published in 1915, presented a comprehensive account of his findings. While Wegener's theory could explain a variety of geological phenomena, including the matching shapes of continents, similar rock formations, and the distribution of fossils, it lacked a mechanism to explain the driving force behind the movement. This missing element caused many scientists to reject his ideas. Tragically, Wegener died in 1930 during an arctic expedition, never witnessing the acceptance of his theory. It was not until the 1960s, with the advent of plate tectonics, that Wegener's theory gained widespread recognition and was integrated into the scientific consensus. Today, Alfred Wegener is recognized as a pioneer in the field of geology and his theory of continental drift laid the foundation for our current understanding of the Earth's dynamic processes. His work has had a profound influence on the study of geology, paleontology, and earth sciences as a whole.