Podcast
Questions and Answers
What academic discipline did Alfred Wegener initially earn a PhD in before switching to meteorology?
What academic discipline did Alfred Wegener initially earn a PhD in before switching to meteorology?
In which year did Alfred Wegener publish his book titled 'The Origin of Continents and Oceans'?
In which year did Alfred Wegener publish his book titled 'The Origin of Continents and Oceans'?
During which expedition did Alfred Wegener first establish a meteorological station in Greenland?
During which expedition did Alfred Wegener first establish a meteorological station in Greenland?
Which scientific evidence discovered by Wegener in 1911 supported his theory of continental drift?
Which scientific evidence discovered by Wegener in 1911 supported his theory of continental drift?
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What key observations led Wegener to propose the theory of continental drift?
What key observations led Wegener to propose the theory of continental drift?
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What position did Wegener hold at Graz University, Austria?
What position did Wegener hold at Graz University, Austria?
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Which event interrupted Alfred Wegener's academic career during World War I?
Which event interrupted Alfred Wegener's academic career during World War I?
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Who accompanied Alfred Wegener in pioneering the use of weather balloons?
Who accompanied Alfred Wegener in pioneering the use of weather balloons?
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What significant scientific position did Wegener hold at Marburg University?
What significant scientific position did Wegener hold at Marburg University?
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Which factor delayed the acceptance of Wegener's theory during his lifetime?
Which factor delayed the acceptance of Wegener's theory during his lifetime?
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Flashcards
Alfred Wegener
Alfred Wegener
German meteorologist and Arctic explorer who proposed continental drift.
Continental Drift Theory
Continental Drift Theory
Theory proposing continents were once joined and have moved apart.
Evidence of Drift
Evidence of Drift
Fossil records suggesting continents like Africa and South America were once connected.
Greenland Expeditions
Greenland Expeditions
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Meteorological Innovations
Meteorological Innovations
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Academic Career
Academic Career
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Key Publication: "The Origin of Continents and Oceans"
Key Publication: "The Origin of Continents and Oceans"
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Fossil Evidence (1911)
Fossil Evidence (1911)
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World War I Interruption
World War I Interruption
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Posthumous Acceptance
Posthumous Acceptance
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Study Notes
Alfred Wegener: Continental Drift Theorist
- Wegener, a meteorologist and explorer, proposed the theory of continental drift.
- He was not a geologist, but an original thinker who accumulated evidence for his ideas.
- His ideas weren't widely accepted until after his death.
Wegener's Early Life and Education
- Born in Berlin, Germany, youngest of five children.
- Earned a PhD in astronomy at Berlin University.
- Transitioned to meteorology and worked at a weather station in Beeskow.
- Pioneered weather balloon use with his brother.
Wegener's Greenland Expeditions
- Led expeditions to Greenland, beginning in 1906.
- Established the first meteorological station in Greenland.
- Observed and studied coastlines, questioning their connections.
Wegener's Theory and Publications
- Developed continental drift theory in 1911.
- Discovered fossil evidence supporting theory (Africa and South America connected).
- Published his theory in two 1912 papers and lectured extensively.
- Published The Origin of Continents and Oceans in 1915, including maps of continental connections.
World War I and Later Career
- Drafted into the German army during WWI.
- Wounded in war and released in 1914.
- Became professor of meteorology at Marburg University.
- Took up a professorship in meteorology and geophysics at Graz University in 1924.
- Died on a 1930 Greenland expedition.
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Description
Explore the life and contributions of Alfred Wegener, a pioneering meteorologist who proposed the theory of continental drift. Learn about his early education, expeditions to Greenland, and the evidence he gathered that eventually reshaped our understanding of continental connections.
