Alfred Wegener Astronomer Loved meterology new field Loved

Alfred Wegener

Astronomer Loved meterology (new field) Loved Greenland Three expeditions:

1 st expedition. . Danmark destroyed by ice Baloon boy!

Mapping eastern Greenland Expedition leader and cartographer died on sled journey mapping greenland

2 nd Expedition Danish North Greenland Expedition, 1912– 1913

Injured during WW 1 Nothing to do by lie in bed and think

Theory of Continental Drift Combined observations that didn’t seem related and created Pangea!

1. Close geographic fit of South America and Africa—like a torn newspaper.

2. Narrow mountain belts restricted to continental margins.

3. Isostasy of crust at two levels—oceanic and continental.

4. Distribution of certain fossils, such as Mesosaurus.

5. Distribution of ancient climatic indicators does not make sense.

Hostile Reception

AAPG Stopped discussion for 40 years Land based geologist No offshore drilling until after WWII

Why aren’t new ideas accepted? Before his time – Wegener's hypothesis moved ahead of confirming evidence too fast. Many previously unrelated observations were combined into a large theoretical jump. This is contrary to the normal progressive, step-by-step development of science. Youthful outsider – Wegener was a man of many talents, but he had no formal training in geology. Thus, he had no credentials. At the same time, he had no preconceived position to defend or prove. At the beginning of the 20 th century, no scientist was recognized until at least age 40; Wegener was in his early thirties when he first proposed continental drift. Scientific inertia – Geology could not remake itself overnight. There was natural resistance to change, to accepting radical new ideas. Geologists had vested interests in their work and were reluctant to admit past misinterpretations of fundamental significance.

rd 3 Expedition the German expedition 1930

Permanent overwintering station

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