👤 whose

Whose calculations first measured the age of the ocean floor from magnetic reversals?

Quick Answer

Keith Runcorn was a leading figure in using paleomagnetism to date and test seafloor spreading. His work supported plate tectonics in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Full Story

British geophysicist Keith Runcorn used the record of Earth’s magnetic field preserved in rocks to study continental movement and the ocean floor. His paleomagnetic analyses showed that continents had changed latitude over time and that the magnetic field had reversed in the past. This evidence was crucial in the mid-20th-century acceptance of plate tectonics. Runcorn’s research helped connect rock magnetism with global tectonic motion.

Key Facts

1.Runcorn was active in the 1950s and 1960s
2.used paleomagnetism in rocks
3.helped support plate tectonics

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"Rocks that remember where Earth’s poles used to be"

Was this answer helpful?

Tap a reaction — it helps us pick what to cover next.