He published his theory in full in his book the origin of continents and oceans in 1915 first presented in 1912. In my geology classes, i learned that one day alfred wegener decided that the continents had drifted to their current positions, published this. 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. The origin of continents and oceans, published in 1915. Wegener and the continental drift hypothesis geology. First edition, journal issues in the original printed wrappers. Alfred wegener 18801930 was a german scientist, geophysicist and meteorologist. That was the day 31yearold meteorologist alfred wegener gave his talk on the formation of the oceans and continents and in the process shook the foundations of accepted doctrine.
Even though wegener found strong evidence to support his theory, not everyone accepted it from the start. Alfred wegener author of the origin of continents and oceans. Wegener died while on an expedition to greenland in. Alfred wegener, german meteorologist and geophysicist who formulated the first complete statement of the continental drift hypothesis. He revised this book several times up to 1929, and it was translated into french, english, spanish, and russian.
Wegener first presented his theory in lectures in 1912 and published it in full in. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Alfred wegner was born, in an affluent german family, in the capital city of berlin, on november 1, 1880. His father, richard wegener, was a theologian and teacher of classical languages at the berlinisches gymnasium zum grauen kloster. Pdf alfred wegener the father of continental drift ebooks. Translated from the fourth revised edition braunschweig, 1929 by john biram. Perhaps alfred wegeners greatest contribution to the scientific world was. Dec 19, 2017 but geologists soundly denounced wegeners theory of continental drift after he published the details in a 1915 book called the origin of continents and oceans. Not yet 32, alfred wegener had already published in several branches of meteorology and his admired textbook, thermodynamics of the atmosphere 1911 showed him to be unusually skilled at synthesis. Using this pioneering interdisciplinary approach, wegener wrote one of the most influential and controversial books in the history of science.
May 15, 2019 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. In 1915, german scientist alfred wegener published a book to present a theory he called continental drift. German climatologist and geophysicist who, in 1915, published as expanded version of his 1912 book the origin of continents and oceans. The scientific life of alfred wegener timeline timetoast. In 1915 the first edition of the origin of continents and oceans, a book outlining the continental drift theory of alfred lothar wegener, a german meterologist, was published.
As a child he was always very keen on outdoor activities and loved hiking walking and skating. Alfred wegener, german meteorologist and geophysicist who formulated the. The publication is sold out in several languages and has become widely discussed. The origin of continents and oceans dover earth science. In 1915, wegener published his book, the origin of continents and oceans, suggesting that the earths continents were once joined together in one large mass. Greene places wegeners upbringing and theoretical advances in earth science in the context of his brilliantly eclectic career, bringing wegener to life by analyzing his published scientific work, delving into all of his surviving letters and journals, and tracing both his passionate commitment to science and his.
On an unknown day in midnovember 1930, alfred wegener died on his fourth expedition to greenland. Science, exploration and the theory of continental drift, adds much to the literature and literacy about one of the giants of. Wegener believed that continental drift was the result of centrifugal force and tidal attraction, but the scientific community. By the end of the war wegener had published almost 20 additional. Wegener postulated a massive supercontinent, which he called pangaea greek for whole land, as existing about 225 million years ago and then breaking apart into several. Alfred wegener download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Mar 12, 2019 during the second and third decades of the twentieth century, the notion of continental drift was revived, most notably by the german meteorologist and geophysicist alfred wegener. Alfred wegener has 16 books on goodreads with 425 ratings. What was alfred wegeners theory of continental drift. Alfred wegeners most popular book is the origin of continents and oceans. 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.
Even though wegener found strong evidence to support. Alfred wegener biography childhood, life achievements. Wegener showed that the continents had split apart and drifted away from one another over geological time. Wegeners idea was mostly ridiculed, in part because wegener could not develop a plausible mechanism for continents moving through oceanic crust. He is most notable for his 1912 theory of continental drift, which was not accepted until the 1950s, when numerous discoveries such as paleomagnetism confirmed his hypothesis. It was translated into french, english, spanish, and russian in 1924. A masterful biography of alfred wegener 18801930, the german scientist who. Wegener explained various phenomena of historical geology, geomorphy, paleontology, paleoclimatology, and similar areas in terms of continental drift. Because of the first world war, wegeners book went unnoticed outside germany. Wegener believed that the large pieces of land we call continents move over long periods of time. The reaction to alfred wegener s theory tells us much about the workings of science. Pdf alfred wegener the father of continental drift. In 1915 the first edition of the origin of continents and oceans, a book outlining wegeners theory, was published. Alfred lothar wegener b 1111880 in berlin, d 2111930 in greenland was born in germany where his father was a minister.
The reaction to alfred wegeners theory tells us much about the workings of science. In 1922, however, a third revised edition was translated into. Wegener died while on an expedition to greenland in the first week of november 1930. This work was one of the first to suggest continental drift and plate tectonics. When continental drift was considered pseudoscience. 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. In 1912, alfred wegener proposed a theory that the continents had once been joined, and over time had drifted apart. Alfred lothar wegener was a german polar researcher, geophysicist and meteorologist. Later editions of his book added new data to refute his opponents or to.
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. On the following pages you will find out, among other things, how alfred wegener arrived at his theory back then and what young geologists today can learn from him. Alfred wegeners theory of continental drift and evidence. The father of continental drift in 1986 originally published in german in 1980. By the time wegener published the final version of his theory, in 1929, he was certain it would sweep other theories aside and pull together all the accumulating evidence into a unifying vision of. Mott greene s new and groundbreaking book on wegener, alfred wegener. But the real controversy and discussion began in 1922, when he published the book the origin of continents and oceans. Click download or read online button to get alfred wegener book now. The origin of continents and oceans alfred wegener. Alfred wegener johns hopkins university press books.
It also includes the supplements and corrections by wladimir koppen to this book, published in 1940, shortly before his death and a decade after alfred wegeners untimely death on greenland. Alfred wegener proposed the theory of continental drift the idea that the. How alfred wegener defended the theory of continental drift. Wegener published his hypothesis of what he originally called kontinentalverschiebung continental displacements, later translated into. This book has helped me understand where wagner was coming from and the. He called the original landmass or supercontinent pangaea, the greek word for all the earth. Books by alfred wegener author of the origin of continents. In 1915 alfred wegeners seminal work describing the continental drift was first published in german. All of these facts supported wegeners theory of continental drift. Wegener, alfred 18801930 german climatologist and geophysicist who, in 1915, published as expanded version of his 1912 book the origin of continents and oceans. Born on november 1, 1880, alfred lothar wegener earned a ph.
Alfred lothar wegener 18801930, the originator of the theory of continental drift. According to wegener, over time pangaea split apart and the different landmasses, or. Science, exploration, and the theory of continental. Alfred wegener published his idea that the continents had been joined as a single landmass, which he called pangaea, about 300 million years ago. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want.
Richard taught classical languages in one of the most prestigious educational institute, evangelisches gymnasium zum grauen kloster, of germany. 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. Alfred wegener was born to his two parents, anna and richard wegener in berlin,germany jan 1, 1905. Dec 14, 2011 alfred wegener 18801930 was a german scientist, geophysicist and meteorologist. Wegener published his most famous work, the origin of continents and oceans as a continuation of his 1912 theory. Wegener, alfred 18801930 from eric weissteins world. About 300 million years ago, claimed wegener, the continents had formed a single mass, called pangaea.
His ideas were largely ignored at the time they were developed, but today they are widely accepted by the scientific community. He was the fifth child of churchman richard and housemaker anna wegener. His ideas were largely ignored at the time they were developed, but today they are widely. Alfred lothar wegener 1 november 1880november 1930 was a german polar researcher, geophysicist and meteorologist alfred wegene. But he was unknown in geology and had only been seriously. Wegener published what would be the final edition of his book the origin of continents and oceans in 1929. Alfred wegener was born in berlin on 1 november 1880 as the youngest of five children in a clergymans family. Alfred wegener 18801930 university of california museum. But he was unknown in geology and had only been seriously reading the geological literature for about four months. In 1911, still only 30, wegener collected his meteorology lectures into a book. Pdf alfred wegener ebooks includes pdf, epub and kindle. The translation and the facsimile have both been enhanced by subject indices, which the original book was lacking. Wegener explained various phenomena of historical geology, geomorphy, paleontology, paleoclimatology, and. Why was alfred wegeners continental drift theory rejected.
479 838 631 563 1664 480 1140 431 1000 323 1628 823 306 785 128 1639 1148 410 376 715 1073 487 1276 430 504 547 1363 265 667 1390 1408 105 388 990 1360 596