A course on the kinematics of the lithosphere and continental crust

This course is taught by Professor Vince Cronin

Introduction

Many of the primary contributions toward the first-generation understanding of plate kinematics were made between about 1960 and 1980, with a new generation of important contributions being made today with our greater access to high-resolution GPS data. It is worthwhile to become familiar with the major contributions, as well as with the people who were most responsible for them. The following list is being compiled as the semester goes on.

For each person listed below, you are to write a brief summary of their primary contributions that are relevant to plate kinematics, along with some basic biographical information. For most entries, this will amount to a paragraph of 3-5 sentences. The summaries are to be in a Microsoft Word file whose name begins with your last name and ends with the word "biographies", as in "Cronin-biographies.docx". The font should be 12-point Times New Roman regular, and the lines with 1.5 spacing on pages with 1" margins. All text should be your own writing in correct standard English -- no plagiarism. Cite your sources for each summary at the end of the summary.

1. Abraham Ortelius
2. Antonio Snider-Pellegrini
3. Alfred Wegener
4. Eduard Suess
5. Alexander Du Toit
6. Tanya Atwater
7. Arthur Holmes
8. Felix Vening-Meinesz
9. Harold Hess
10. Marie Tharp
11. Bruce Heezen
12. Maurice Ewing
13. Edward Bullard
14. J.E. Everett
15. A. Gilbert Smith
16. Xavier Le Pichon
17. Dan McKenzie
18. John G. Slater
    ...and many more to come!

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