Alfred Wegener and Continental Drift Theory

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Questions and Answers

What was one of Wegener's significant contributions to the theory of continental drift?

He proposed that ocean currents caused continents to drift.

He documented the speed of continental drift using satellite imagery.

He developed a method for measuring tectonic plate movement.

He discovered fossil evidence suggesting landmass connections. (correct)

Which statement best summarizes Alfred Wegener's professional background?

He was primarily trained as a geologist before proposing his theory.

He spent most of his career as a professor of geology.

He began his career in oceanography and shifted to meteorology later.

He had an initial focus on astronomy before moving into meteorology. (correct)

What event interrupted Wegener's career development during World War I?

He relocated to the United States for research opportunities.

He was appointed to a governmental meteorological position.

He was drafted into the German army and subsequently wounded. (correct)

He became a prominent public speaker on meteorology.

What was the focus of Wegener's significant publication titled The Origin of Continents and Oceans?

Maps illustrating the connections between continents. Signup and view all the answers

During which expedition did Alfred Wegener disappear?

His fourth expedition to Greenland in 1930. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary reason Wegener's theory of continental drift faced initial skepticism?

Inability to explain the mechanism of movement Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of Marie Tharp's work was crucial in supporting Wegener's theory?

Her mapping of the ocean floor showing geological features Signup and view all the answers

How did previous explanations for the movement of continents differ from Wegener's theory?

They proposed supernatural events as causes Signup and view all the answers

What significant development in the mid-20th century helped validate Wegener's theory?

The acceptance of tectonic plate theory Signup and view all the answers

What observation led Wegener to propose that continents were once connected?

The matching of coastlines resembling a jigsaw puzzle Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the limitations Wegener faced during his research on continental drift?

Inadequate technology for thorough investigation Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the geological features identified by Marie Tharp that supported the theory?

Mapping of mid-ocean ridges that indicated tectonic activity Signup and view all the answers

What initial interpretations were made regarding the similarities of geological features across continents before Wegener's theory?

An indication of land bridges existing during ancient times Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Alfred Wegener: Continental Drift Theorist

Wegener, a meteorologist, proposed the theory of continental drift.
He was not a geologist, but amassed evidence from diverse research.
His ideas, like many innovations, were not widely accepted until after his death.
Born in Berlin, Germany, youngest of five children.
Studied astronomy at Berlin University, then switched to meteorology.
Worked at a meteorological station in Beeskow.
Pioneered the use of weather balloons for air movement study with his brother Kurt.
In 1906, he led a scientific expedition charting the northeast coast of Greenland, establishing the 1st meteorological station there.
Returned to Germany and became professor of meteorology at Marburg University.
Questioned the shape of continents and why they are positioned as they are.
Noticed similar coastlines on continents (Africa and South America).
Proposed fossil evidence supported his theory that the continents were once joined (1911).
Published his theory in two 1912 papers and lectured on continental drift.
Published "The Origin of Continents and Oceans" in 1915, including maps of continental connections.
Drafted into the German army during WWI, wounded, and discharged in 1914.
Returned to academia, becoming a professor of meteorology and geophysics at Graz University, Austria in 1924.
His 1930 Greenland expedition, his last, was cut short by death 50 days after his 50th birthday.
He could not explain how or why the continents had moved.
He made three more expeditions to find more evidence, before his death in 1930 from overexertion.
His theory was not well-received initially due mainly to a lack of a plausible mechanism for supporting the idea.

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Description

Explore the life and contributions of Alfred Wegener, the meteorologist who proposed the revolutionary theory of continental drift. This quiz delves into his background, research, and the evidence that led him to question the arrangement of the continents. Discover how his ideas changed our understanding of Earth's geography and climate.