Alfred Wegener

Scientific Achievements

Alfred Wegener was the first scientist in history to make a detailed scientific case supporting the theory of Continental Drift.

Wegener graduated from the University of Berlin. He first thought of Continental Drift when fossils of the same species of ancient plant were found on both South America and Africa.

Continental DriftAccording to the theory continental drift all the

continents on Earth were once a super-continent named Pangaea.

This is adequate evidence as to why fossils of the same species of ancient plant were found on different continents.

Further evidence that Pangaea once existed was the coasts of Africa and South America match almost to the point that they would fit together like two puzzle pieces.

How Continents Moved

The Continents moved because of a theory called Ocean Floor Spreading.

Ocean Floor Spreading is when two plates move apart because of tectonic plates below the surface move in the opposite direction.

Revolution

Alfred Wagener's theories at the time he sought to prove them were not accepted. However almost a century after his death Wegener’s ideas have become widely accepted.

He was the founding father of a major scientific revolution in the 20th century.

Interesting Facts

Wegener was a record holding ballonist.He had a degree in astronomy but was

interested in Earth Science.

Sources

Prentice Hall Science(Dynamic Earth)

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/wegener.html