Why is alfred wegener important to plate tectonics

Alfred Wegener died in Greenland in while carrying out studies related to glaciation and climate. At the time of his death, his ideas were tentatively accepted by only a small minority of geologists, and soundly rejected by most. However, within a few decades that was all to change. Skip to content If you look at a map of Earth, you may notice that some of the continents seem to fit together.

Figure 4. Alfred Wegener, ca. Next: 4. Share This Book Share on Twitter. Alfred Lothar Wegener , the originator of the theory of continental drift. Wegener obtained his doctorate in planetary astronomy in but soon became interested in meteorology; during his lifetime, he participated in several meteorologic expeditions to Greenland. Tenacious by nature, Wegener spent much of his adult life vigorously defending his theory of continental drift, which was severely attacked from the start and never gained acceptance in his lifetime.

Despite overwhelming criticism from most leading geologists, who regarded him as a mere meteorologist and outsider meddling in their field, Wegener did not back down but worked even harder to strengthen his theory. A couple of years before his death, Wegener finally achieved one of his lifetime goals: an academic position.

After a long but unsuccessful search for a university position in his native Germany, he accepted a professorship at the University of Graz in Austria. Wegener's frustration and long delay in gaining a university post perhaps stemmed from his broad scientific interests. As noted by Johannes Georgi, Wegener's longtime friend and colleague, "One heard time and again that he had been turned down for a certain chair because he was interested also, and perhaps to a greater degree, in matters that lay outside its terms of reference -- as if such a man would not have been worthy of any chair in the wide realm of world science.

Ironically, shortly after achieving his academic goal, Wegener died on a meteorologic expedition to Greenland. However, within a few decades that was all to change.

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