Final answer:
Alfred Wegener proposed the idea of continental drift and argued that the southern landmasses had a colder climate due to their proximity to the South Pole.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alfred Wegener proposed the idea of continental drift, which stated that the continents had once been connected in a supercontinent called Pangaea. He used evidence such as the fit of the continents and matching fossils to support his hypothesis. In regards to the existence of glaciers in southern landmasses and lush tropical swamps in North America, Europe, and Asia, Wegener argued that the southern landmasses had a colder climate due to their proximity to the South Pole. Therefore, the answer is option C.