A scientist across disciplines
Born in 1880, Wegener worked in climatology, geology, geophysics, and meteorology. During his lifetime, he was known especially for his achievements in meteorology and his pioneering polar research.
Literature
Alfred Wegener
Originating the continental drift hypothesis in 1912.
Alfred Wegener was a German climatologist, geologist, geophysicist, meteorologist, and polar researcher. He is best remembered for proposing that the continents slowly drift around the Earth. The hypothesis gained strong support in the 1960s and became an important basis for the modern model of plate tectonics.
Worth knowing
Continents in motion
In 1912, Wegener proposed that the continents slowly drift around the Earth. Mainstream geology did not accept the hypothesis until the 1960s, when evidence including palaeomagnetism provided strong support.
A winter on Greenland’s ice
Wegener took part in several expeditions to Greenland to study polar air circulation. Expedition members were the first to overwinter on Greenland’s inland ice sheet.
Research on a moving glacier
Wegener’s Greenland expeditions produced numerous meteorological observations. Participants were also the first to bore ice cores on a moving Arctic glacier.
Follow the story on foot
These addresses are scattered across the city. Our routes and quests put them in an order that works.