Plate Tectonics: An Insider's History of the Modern Theory of the Earth.NAOMI ORESKES Naomi Oreskes is a Professor of History and Science Studies at the University of California San Diego. She has been at UC San Diego since 1998. Background Oreskes received her Bachelor of Science in Mining Geology from the Royal School of Mines Imperial College University Just 35 years ago, the idea of plate tectonics plate tectonics, theory that unifies many of the features and characteristics of continental drift and seafloor spreading into a coherent model and has revolutionized geologists' understanding of continents, ocean basins, mountains, and earth history. was novel. Now, it's the pervasive theory of how the major features of Earth came to be. After a short history of the theories that led to this revolution and a primer on plate tectonics, Oreskes presents a series of essays written by 17 scientists who have been influential in advancing this concept. Although many people collaborated on this theory, most were at just four institutions: the University of Cambridge, Princeton, Lamont Doherty Geological Observatory observatory, scientific facility especially equipped to detect and record naturally occurring scientific phenomena. Although geological and meteorological observatories exist, the term is generally applied to astronomical observatories. , and Scripps Institute of Oceanography oceanography, study of the seas and oceans. The major divisions of oceanography include the geological study of the ocean floor (see plate tectonics) and features; physical oceanography, which is concerned with the physical attributes of the ocean water, such as . Together, authors including Dan McKenzie and John Dewey provide perspective on the birth and development of this idea, as well as how scientific ideas come to fruition. Originally published in hardcover in 2002. Westview Pr, 2003, 424 p., b&w photos/illus., paperback, $30.00. |
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