Wegener

Definition

Alfred Wegener was a German meteorologist and geophysicist who proposed the theory of continental drift. He suggested that continents were once a single landmass that gradually drifted apart.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Wegener's theory of continental drift was initially rejected by many in the scientific community.
2. He provided evidence such as the fit of South America and Africa, fossil correlations, and geological similarities.
3. Wegener's ideas laid the groundwork for the modern theory of plate tectonics.
4. Despite his contributions, Wegener did not live to see his theories widely accepted; he died in 1930.
5. His book 'The Origin of Continents and Oceans' outlined his comprehensive argument for continental drift.

Review Questions

• What key pieces of evidence did Wegener use to support his theory of continental drift?
• Why was Alfred Wegener's theory initially met with skepticism?
• How did Wegener's work contribute to the development of plate tectonics?

Related terms

Continental Drift: The hypothesis that continents have moved across Earth's surface over geological time.

Plate Tectonics: The scientific theory explaining the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates.

Pangaea: A supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, comprising all current continents joined together.