Final answer:
The statement is false; Wegener used the presence of tropical coal deposits in temperate regions as evidence for his theory of continental drift and the existence of the supercontinent Pangaea.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Wegener was puzzled by coal because coal is located in tropical areas when it should be in cool areas is FALSE. Wegener, known for his theory of continental drift, recognized that coal deposits, evidence of tropical conditions, were found in regions that are now temperate.
This supported his theory that continents had drifted and that areas now located in cooler climates were once positioned near the equator, where they experienced tropical conditions allowing for coal formation. Coal is a fossil fuel that formed from the remains of plants from 300 to 400 million years ago.
The presence of coal deposits in regions that are now temperate was among the various pieces of evidence Wegener compiled to support his revolutionary hypothesis of continental drift, with the ancient supercontinent Pangaea fragmenting and drifting apart to form the continents as we know them today.