Results 1 to 2 of 2
  1. #1
    Senior Member Platinum Poster
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    13,473

    Default Anniversary: Alfred Wagener

    November 1st 1880, Berlin, German Empire – A fifth and final child is born to theologian, classics teacher and orphanage director Richard Wegener and his wife, Anna. As a youngster, Alfred Lothar Wegener would take an interest in the sciences and go on to study astronomy at the University of Berlin. Whilst completing his PhD, he would become interested in paleoclimatology and made the first of four journeys into the savage landscape of Greenland to study polar weather.

    At the outbreak of World War I, Wegener enlisted for the Kaiser’s army and was wounded twice in the line of duty. During his recuperative period in 1915, Wegener published The Origin of Continents and Oceans, in which he presented extensive evidence that all of the Earth's continents were at one time connected in a landmass he called Urkontinent , now known by the Greek Pangaea. He also proposed the first theory of continental drift (Kontinentalverschiebung) to explain the current location of the Earth’s landforms. This was tantamount to geological sacrilege.

    (from Oil & Gas IQ) with a link to an audio-visual explanation:

    Pangaea Animation on Vimeo



  2. #2
    Hung Angel Platinum Poster trish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    The United Fuckin' States of America
    Posts
    13,898

    Default Re: Anniversary: Alfred Wagener

    So at one time there was no ocean separating the Americas from Europe and Africa. That explains how (in Mormon Christology) Jesus was able visit the New World after his burial and get back three days later just in time to appear to the Apostles.

    But truly, we owe to Wegener the current drift of our understanding of plate tectonics and the structure of our planet. The consequences for geology, paleontology, biology etc. are indispensable. Thanks for the post.


    "...I no longer believe that people's secrets are defined and communicable, or their feelings full-blown and easy to recognize."_Alice Munro, Chaddeleys and Flemings.

    "...the order in creation which you see is that which you have put there, like a string in a maze, so that you shall not lose your way". _Judge Holden, Cormac McCarthy's, BLOOD MERIDIAN.

Similar Threads

  1. Anniversary: Alaska
    By Stavros in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-18-2013, 06:58 PM
  2. 1 Year Anniversary!
    By EvaCassini in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 08-10-2013, 07:44 AM
  3. Another anniversary: The Rite of Spring
    By Stavros in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-29-2013, 04:13 PM
  4. 9/11 10th Anniversary
    By robertlouis in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 31
    Last Post: 09-13-2011, 08:11 PM
  5. It's the one year anniversary of the new boards!
    By NYCe in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 27
    Last Post: 03-07-2011, 07:15 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •