Wegener's Mistakes
Geophysicist and geologist Tanya Atwater talks about mistakes made by Alfred Wegener in formulating his theory of continental drift, some of which created doubt and skepticism among fellow geologists.
Early Evidence of Continental Drift
Geophysicist and geologist Tanya Atwater points to the jig-saw puzzle fit of Africa and South America as the most obvious evidence supporting the theory of continental drift.
Post-World War II Oceanography
Geophysicist and geologist Tanya Atwater talks about technology developed as part of the war effort in the 1940's that would prove critical in the formulation of plate tectonics theory.
Seafloor Spreading: Harry Hess
Geophysicist and geologist Tanya Atwater talks about seafloor spreading, an idea first articulated by Harry Hess that many consider to be the linchpin of plate tectonics.
Seafloor Spreading and Plate Tectonics (Part 1)
Geophysicist and geologist Tanya Atwater talks about the role of seafloor spreading and spreading centers in the plate tectonics process.
Seafloor Spreading: Vine and Matthews
Geophysicist and geologist Tanya Atwater talks about work done by Fred Vine and Drummond Matthews that ultimately provided proof of seafloor spreading by tracking the patterns of magnetic striping on the ocean floor.
Making the Pieces Fit: Birth of a Theory: Plate Tectonics
Canadian geophysicist John Tuzo Wilson argued that Earth's outer layer consists of about a dozen separate plates, which float on the partially melted asthenosphere below them. His ideas paved the way for the integration of seafloor spreading and con...
World in Motion: Seamounts, Guyots and Island Arcs
Seamounts, guyots and island arcs form on the ocean floor as a result of a hot spot or mantle plume. While seamounts do not extend above the ocean surface, a guyot is tall enough to be eroded by wave activity and therefore has a flat top. An island ...
World in Motion: Earth's Tectonic Past and Future
Scientists attempt to reconstruct Earth's history so as to better understand the current state of geologic affairs, including those forces that cause plate movement.
World in Motion: Plate Boundaries and Plate Movement
Whether studying earthquakes, volcanoes, or other geologic events, scientists usually focus their attention on plate boundaries and plate movement.