Marie Tharp |
Marie Tharp (1920–2006), a geologist and ocean cartographer, created the first scientific map of the Atlantic Ocean floor. Working with data collected by colleagues, she plotted and delineated the intricate topography and multidimensional geography of the ocean landscape. Revealing a rift in the middle of the mid-Atlantic Ridge, Tharp’s meticulous hand-drawn maps helped to prove that the seafloor spreads outwardly. Her work thus provided vital evidence for the theories of plate tectonics that help explain earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
< previous next > |