In 1962, who published 'The History of Ocean Basins', which outlined the theory of how tectonic plates could move, later called 'sea floor spreading'?

Key Points

• Harry Hammond Hess published 'The History of Ocean Basins' in 1962.
• His work outlined the theory of how tectonic plates could move, which later came to be known as 'sea floor spreading'.
• Hess's theory was crucial in providing a mechanism for Alfred Wegener's earlier hypothesis of continental drift.
• This theory helped to explain the formation of mid-ocean ridges and the symmetrical pattern of magnetic stripes on the ocean floor.
• Sea floor spreading is a key component of the broader theory of plate tectonics, which describes the movement of the Earth's lithosphere.

Additional Information

• Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift in 1912, suggesting that continents had once been joined together and had since drifted apart.
• Louis Bauer was an American geophysicist known for his work in geomagnetism but did not contribute to the theory of sea floor spreading.
• George Edward Backus was an American geophysicist known for his work in geophysical inverse theory and geomagnetism, but not related to sea floor spreading.
• The concept of plate tectonics has revolutionized our understanding of Earth's geological processes, including the formation of mountains, earthquakes, and volcanic activity.