In the Footsteps of Warren B. Hamilton: New Ideas in Earth Science

The Paving Stone Theory of World Tectonics

10.1093/oso/9780198717867.003.0003 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Roy Livermore

Keyword(s):

Indian Ocean ◽

Plate Tectonics ◽

Earth Science ◽

Transform Faults ◽

Plate Motions ◽

Euler’S Theorem ◽

History Of ◽

New Ideas ◽

Entire History ◽

The Indian Ocean

Tuzo Wilson introduces the concept of transform faults, which has the effect of transforming Earth Science forever. Resistance to the new ideas is finally overcome in the late 1960s, as the theory of moving plates is established. Two scientists play a major role in quantifying the embryonic theory that is eventually dubbed ‘plate tectonics’. Dan McKenzie applies Euler’s theorem, used previously by Teddy Bullard to reconstruct the continents around the Atlantic, to the problem of plate rotations on a sphere and uses it to unravel the entire history of the Indian Ocean. Jason Morgan also wraps plate tectonics around a sphere. Tuzo Wilson introduces the idea of a fixed hotspot beneath Hawaii, an idea taken up by Jason Morgan to create an absolute reference frame for plate motions.

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Introduction. Progress in astronomy: from gravitational waves to space weather

Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences ◽

10.1098/rsta.2008.0202 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 366 (1884) ◽

pp. 4359-4364

Author(s):

J. Michael T Thompson

Keyword(s):

Gravitational Waves ◽

Space Weather ◽

Gamma Ray ◽

Earth Science ◽

Gamma Ray Bursts ◽

Stellar Collapse ◽

The World ◽

The Future ◽

Nearby Stars ◽

New Ideas

This brief paper introduces and reviews the ‘visions of the future’ articles prepared by leading young scientists throughout the world for the first of two Christmas 2008 Triennial issues of Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A , devoted, respectively, to astronomy and Earth science. Contributions in astronomy include the very topical gamma-ray bursts, new ideas on stellar collapse and the unusual atmospheres of synchronized planets orbiting nearby stars.

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