2026-07-30 12:05 UTC
The early ideas about plate tectonics were still quite controversial & unpopular. Heezen dismissed this as “girl talk” - though really a vital piece of the plate tectonics puzzle.
Tharp believed rift was real though she hadn’t convinced Heezen. In 1952, they began working on physiographic maps, which really gave a sense of the geology, & were not US Navy classified, so they could publish. A 2nd project involved plotting earthquakes, & Heezen insisted they work at same scale. 🧵3/5
Replies (1)
-
@minouette@spore.social 2026-07-30 12:05
Heezen noticed that ocean earthquake epicentre data also formed long lines - in fact, when one map was placed above the other on a light table the earthquakes formed near continous lines along the Mid-Atlantic ridge right where Tharp had indicated a rift valley. Using earthquake data to extrapolate & plot the rift position they found that the rift extended landward into the Rift Valley of East Africa. Heezen was convinced. 🧵4/5