"The Origin of Continents and Oceans," a classic work by Alfred Wegener, embraces a new Chinese translation now. This translation aims to reproduce the charm of the original work, which delves deep into how Earth sciences collectively unveil the mysteries of our planet's early state. The book emphasizes that while scientists have yet to fully comprehend the interconnections between various Earth sciences, only by integrating evidence from different disciplines can we approach the "truth" of Earth's history. Wegener proposed that at any given time, the Earth could only have one geographical configuration, which is not directly manifested on the Earth's surface. By comprehensively analyzing data from fields such as geology, geophysics, and paleontology, readers will be able to obtain the best arrangement of facts and thus form the most probable historical picture.
This Chinese translation not only preserves the original work's scientific rigor but also tailors the language, style, and explanations to Chinese readers, facilitating understanding and application. It is suitable not only for geologists, geophysicists, and paleontologists but also for biogeographers, phytogeographers, and paleoclimatologists, encouraging scientists from various fields to jointly explore, continuously revise existing conclusions, and weigh the insights brought about by new discoveries. Whether you are a novice in scientific research or a seasoned expert, this book will open a new window for you to understand the evolution of the Earth.
Xiaowen Ji is a lecturer in the College of Foreign Languages at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology. She obtained her Master's degree and Ph.D. degree from Shanghai International Studies University, with a year as a visiting Ph.D. researcher at Leiden University in the Netherlands, supported by the China Scholarship Council.
Yingxiang Guo obtained her Master's degree from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology. She has completed translation of more than 200 thousand words.
