# Alfred Wegener

_German climatologist and geophysicist (1880–1930)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/alfred-wegener
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Alfred Lothar Wegener (; German: [ˈʔalfʁeːt ˈveːɡənɐ]; 1 November 1880 – November 1930) was a German climatologist, geologist, geophysicist, meteorologist, and polar researcher.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 1 November 1880 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76323#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Berlin ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76323#P19))
- **Died:** November 1930 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76323#P570))
- **Place of death:** Greenland ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76323#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Germany ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76323#P27))
- **Occupation:** meteorologist; university teacher; polar explorer; physicist; geographer; geophysicist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76323#P106))
- **Education:** Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; Köllnisches Gymnasium ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76323#P69))
- **Spouse:** Else Wegener ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76323#P26))
- **Positions held:** professor (1924–1930) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76323#P39))
- **Awards:** Carl-Ritter-Medal ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76323#P166))

## About

During his lifetime he was primarily known for his achievements in meteorology and as a pioneer of polar research, but today he is most remembered as the originator of the continental drift hypothesis by suggesting in 1912 that the continents are slowly drifting around the Earth (German: Kontinentalverschiebung).

His hypothesis was not accepted by mainstream geology until the 1960s, when numerous discoveries such as palaeomagnetism provided strong support for continental drift, and thereby a substantial basis for today's model of plate tectonics.

Wegener was involved in several expeditions to Greenland to study polar air circulation before the existence of the jet stream was accepted. Expedition participants made many meteorological observations and were the first to overwinter on the inland Greenland ice sheet and the first to bore ice cores on a moving Arctic glacier.

## Questions

**When was Alfred Wegener born?**  
Alfred Wegener was born on 1 November 1880 in Berlin.

**What positions has Alfred Wegener held?**  
Positions held by Alfred Wegener include: professor (1924–1930).

**Where did Alfred Wegener study?**  
Alfred Wegener was educated at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Köllnisches Gymnasium.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Alfred Wegener](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Wegener) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q76323](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76323) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Alfred Wegener ca.1924-30.jpg by Unknown author Unknown author (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alfred_Wegener_ca.1924-30.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Alfred Wegener, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Alfred Wegener ca.1924-30.jpg — Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Alfred Wegener". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/alfred-wegener. Retrieved 5 November 2026.