Early Ideas of Plate Tectonics Early Ideas of Crustal Movement: Early in this century, geologists thought that the ocean basins and continents were fixed. During the past 70 years these ideas have brought about a scientific revolution in which new evidence and data support a slowly but continually moving planet.  It was not until 1968 that a theory called Plate Tectonics provided reliable evidence supporting a mobile Earth.  Reference: Tarbuck and Lutgens Pages

Early Ideas of Plate Tectonics Important people of the past and the contribution they made to support a moving Earth (Plate Tectonics). F. B. Taylor1) In 1910, he published an article explaining the formation of the Himalayan mountains by moving continents. His ideas were not accepted because he failed to provide supporting evidence.  Alfred Wegener2) In 1915, Wegener rattled the scientific community again when he published articles concerning continental drift. He suggested a super continent called Pangaea existed approximately 200 million years ago and since gradually split apart. (evidence was given, but no mechanism provided to support his ideas) 

Early Ideas of Plate Tectonics Important people of the past and the contribution they made to support a moving Earth. Arthur Holmes3) In 1950’s, he discovered the mechanism to explain why Earth’s lithosphere can move, this was referred to as “convection currents” in the mantle (asthenosphere).  Alexander DuToit4) In 1937, he mapped the fit of the continents more accurately by using the continental Margins (shelves) instead of the coastlines. See Africa and South America. 

Early Ideas of Plate Tectonics Important people of the past and the contribution they made to support a moving Earth. Harry Hess and Robert Deitz5) In the 1960’s, they suggested the “Sea Floor Spreading” hypothesis and suggested that the sea-floor can be no greater than 200 million years old.  Frederick Vine and Drummond Mathews6) In 1963, these two scientist studied the ocean floor and found that the magnetism in the rocks appear to change (reverse) as you move away from oceanic ridges. This idea was called “magnetic reversals” and is known to support the idea of Sea Floor Spreading (plate tectonics theory). 

Early Ideas of Plate Tectonics Important people of the past and the contribution they made to support a moving Earth. J. Tuzo Wilson5) In the 1965,  Xavier Le Pichon and Dan McKenzie6) In the 1970’s, 

Early Ideas of Plate Tectonics Important people of the past and the contribution they made to support a moving Earth. Tuzo Wilson7) Was a Canadian geologist who proposed the Plate Tectonic Theory. He put forth the idea that, “Earth consisted of several fragments called plates, instead of being made up of one rigid, solid layer”. This revolutionized the way scientist think of Earth today. 