This is a very informative book about the life of marie tharp who mapped the ocean floor, noticed the atlantic rift, and influenced the scientific world to discover plate tectonics. This book is important for surveyors, hydrographers, cartographers and geol ogists. Rutsteins studies of tharps work, and her own artistic explorations of underwater terrain, inspired her to apply for an artist at sea residency. Born on 30 july 1920 in ypsilanti, michigan, marie tharp was a geologist and oceanographic cartographer who helped create the first map of the ocean floor. Reason gallery b american treasures of the library of. Marie tharp s physiographic diagram of the north atlantic ocean in honor of international womens day my post today is about an important woman in map printing history. Her mother, bertha newton 18801936, was a german and latin teacher, and her father, william edgar tharp 18701959 became a soil surveyor in 1905. One of the most influential cartographers of the midtwentieth century, tharp created the first physiographic maps of the seafloor. Tharp mapped soils in 14 states for the us department of agriculture, and campaigned during the late 1920searly 1930s to raise awareness of the high rates of soil erosion from croplands. List of cartographers simple english wikipedia, the free. Tharp was born july 30, 1920, in ypsilanti, michigan, into a mapmaking family. Prior to the publication of this map, scientists had very little idea of what the seafloor looked like on a global.
List of cartographers wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now. Marie tharp national geospatialintelligence agency. Jul 30, 2018 born on 30 july 1920 in ypsilanti, michigan, marie tharp was a geologist and oceanographic cartographer who helped create the first map of the ocean floor. Aug 26, 2006 marie tharp was an oceanographic cartographer whose work in the 1950s, 60s and 70s helped throw into relief the largely uncharted landscape of the worlds ocean floor. Examining the mummified fat of a particular fossil, the scientists were able to show that the fat was animallike, rather than plantlike or fungilike, thus earning. An earlier map 1957 of the north atlantic revealed the midatlantic ridge and more importantly the midatlantic rift supported the theory of plate tectonics and. Her maps of the ocean floor have been called one of the most remarkable achievements in modern cartography, yet no one knows her name. After earning bachelors degrees in english and music at ohio university in 1943, tharp enrolled at the university of michigan, where she had been recruited into a petroleum geology. Marie tharp and bruce heezen completed several maps of the ocean floor.
Thanks to the pioneering work of american geologist marie tharp 1920 2006 the mysteries of the oceans depths are a little less mysterious. Black whiteness, illustrated by walter lyon krudop. Also, oceanographic cartographers bruce heezen and marie tharp published images of the ocean floor obtained in the 1960s that show midocean ridges and undersea volcanoes that likely released large quantities of heat during past earth upheavals. One of the most famous world maps is the 1977 world ocean floor map see above created by bruce heezen and marie tharp, a pioneering female oceanographer and kickass female scientist. A great example of these female cartographers is marie tharp. Left, oceanographic cartographer marie tharp discusses the history of the geography and map division with a seminar attendee. Mapping the seafloor and discovering the midocean ridge by marie tharp, chapter 2 in lamontdoherty earth observatory of columbia twelve perspectives on the first fifty years 19491999 edited by laurence lippsett.
Marie tharp was born on july 30th 1920 in ypsilanti, michigan. Oceanographic cartographer and geologist marie tharp, along with her research partner bruce heezen, created the first map of the entire ocean floor. In the 1950s and 1960s, marine geologists such as bruce heezen, marie tharp, and henry menard used data from echo sounders to map ocean ridges in the north atlantic and the pacific. Mapping the seafloor and discovering the midocean ridge by marie tharp, chapter 2 in lamontdoherty earth observatory of columbia. As the only child of affluent parents, he was able to pursue his many interests in the outer world about him and the inner world of the laboratory and the. Marie tharps contribution to oceanfloor mapping and the acceptance of plate tectonics wasnt recognized at the time. Marie tharp was named one of the four great 20 th century cartographers by the library of congress in 1997, was presented with the woods hole oceanographic institution women pioneer in oceanography award in 1999, and the lamontdoherty heritage award in 2001.
Before marie tharp, geologist and gifted draftsperson, the whole world, including most of the scientific community, thought. Tharp mapped soils in 14 states for the us department of agriculture, and campaigned during the late 1920searly 1930s. How one womans discovery shook the foundations of geology. After heezen died in 1977, tharp published a comprehensive map of the entire ocean that same year. Hali felt before marie tharps groundbreaking work in the 1950s, the ocean floor was a mysterythen, as now, we knew less about the bottom of the sea than we did about outer space. Hali felt before marie tharp s groundbreaking work in the 1950s, the ocean floor was a mysterythen, as now, we knew less about the bottom of the sea than we did about outer space. Solving the puzzle under the sea book by robert burleigh. Marie tharp is credited with producing one of the worlds first comprehensive maps of the ocean floor.
Though her discoveries were pivotal to the theory of plate tectonics, geologist and cartographer marie tharp is still relatively unknown. Marie tharp spent the fall of 1952 hunched over a drafting table, surrounded by charts, graphs, and jars of india ink. She became fascinated with the work of marie tharp, a pioneering oceanographic cartographer who died in 2006. How marie tharp changed geology forever marie tharps maps helped prove continental drift was real. The whole world was spread out before me or at least, the 70 percent of it covered. Marie tharp 19202006, oceanographic cartographer waldo r. Tharp was the first to map the unseen topography of the ocean floor on a global scale. After working as a field geologist in oklahoma, she was hired. Robert burleigh is the awardwinning author of many books for children, including the adventures of mark twain by huckleberry finn, illustrated by barry blitt.
So why did the giants of her field dismiss her findings as girl talk. All nonessential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited. Marie tharp is a mapmaker who charted the bottom of the ocean at a time when little was known about undersea geology. Dec 24, 2010 the 1977 world ocean floor map created by bruce heezen and marie tharp.
As an oceanographic cartographer, marie tharp is credited with scientifically mapping the ocean floor in partnership with her colleague bruce heezen. A geologist and oceanographic cartographer, marie tharps passion took her to the bottom of the oceanliterally. The harassment, as heezen and tharp dubbed it, was a most unfortunate and regrettable circumstance, lasting far too long, and resulting in the eventual dismissal of tharp from lamont in 1968. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Tharp was the first to map the unseen topography of. When he was still young, the family moved to muscatine, iowa. Minneapolis star tribune soundings is an eloquent testament both to tharps importance and to felts powers of imagination. Tharp was a pioneer in science both as a woman and for her mapmaking. In the 1950s, marie tharp, who had been hired by the lamont geological observatory at columbia university, began plotting the depths of data gathered from. The groundwork behind the acceptance of his theory came about through a painstaking mapping of the ocean floor and, if one person could be. Tharps work revealed the detailed topography and multidimensional geographical landscape of the ocean bottom.
Marie went to schools in alabama, the district of columbia, indiana, iowa, michigan, mississippi, louisiana, new york, and ohio. As an oceanographic cartographer, marie tharp is credited with scientifically mapping the ocean floor in partnership with her colleague bruce. All of the information was important, but it reads like a nonfiction autobiography which is a little more of a slog for me to read. The studies revealed three very important types of features present on the ocean floor. Menard, and american oceanic cartographer marie tharp, ocean basins, which constitute more than twothirds of earths surface, became well enough known to permit serious geologic analysis. It is posted on the web site of the woods hole oceanographic institute with the title marie tharp, and is based on her own book chapter, connecting the dots. A pioneer of modern oceanography, tharp was the first to map details of the ocean floor on a global scale. How marie tharp changed geology forever marie tharp s maps helped prove continental drift was real. Aug 23, 2006 marie tharp, a pathbreaking oceanographic cartographer at the lamontdoherty earth observatory, cocreator of the first global map of the ocean floor and codiscoverer of the central rift valley that runs through the midatlantic ridge died wednesday august 23 in nyack hospital. Marie tharp marie tharp was an american geologist and oceanographic cartographer. It is the graphic summary of more than a century of oceanographic effort. Jul 30, 20 marie tharp was born july 30, 1920 in ypsilanti, michigan. One of her major scientific accomplishments was the creation of the first scientific map of the atlantic ocean seafloor, which tharp created in collaboration with bruce heezen. As historian john noble wilford wrote in his 2000 book the mapmakers.
Tharp obtained a masters degree 1944 in geology from the university of michigan. Before marie tharps groundbreaking work in the 1950s, the ocean floor was a mysterythen, as now, we knew less about the bottom of the sea than we did about outer space. Heezen was credited solely for their work for years, and only later on did marie gain her rightful place in the cartographic world. From a young age, marie tharp loved watching the world. Tharp had no immediate family left when she passed. Science in context archives geological digressions. Oct 08, 2016 take marie tharp 19202006, a geologist, oceanographer, and cartographer. Summary this illustrated biography shares the story of female scientist, marie tharp, a pioneering woman scientist and the first person to ever successfully map the ocean floor provided by publisher. Marie tharp posed next to a physiographic diagram of the north atlantic ocean, late 1950s. Marie tharp 19202006 was a geologist and oceanographic cartographer best. Relief shown by land form drawings, shading, and gradient tints. Marie tharp 19202006 was a geologist and oceanographic cartographer best known for her work with bruce heezen that culminated in the first map of the entire ocean floor 1977. She was an american geologist and oceanographic cartographer who worked side by side with bruce heezen. This exciting lady mapped the atlantic oceans floor.
Mapping the seafloor and discovering the midocean ridge by marie tharp, chapter 2 in lamontdoherty earth observatory of columbia twelve perspectives on the first fifty years 19491999 edited by laurence lippsett not too many people can say this about their lives. Its truly genius tuesday, and today were going under the sea with marie. Courtesy of the lamontdoherty earth observatory felt, h. Using such data as continuous echograms and closely spaced depth soundings, they constructed preliminary contour diagrams, such as the one for this area in the north atlantic. Marie tharp and mapping the ocean floor gis lounge.
Already in early years she followed her father, a soil surveyor for the united states department of agriculture, into the field. May 12, 2020 marie tharp spent the fall of 1952 hunched over a drafting table, surrounded by charts, graphs, and jars of india ink. Lee has since come across, and been fascinated by, american geographercartographer marie tharp 19202006, a significant mapmaker of the twentieth century, who clearly excelled in her art and pioneered as a women in. The story of the remarkable woman who mapped the ocean floor by hali felt. Tharp and heezens work was revolutionary, in that led to many discoveries and the theories of continental drift of plate tectonics. From 1957 to 1977 tharp turned the raw data from researchers seismic readings of the atlantic ocean sea floor into elaborate maps depicting the contours of the ocean bottom. In fact marie tharp 19202006 is an important contributor to the studies of, cartography, geography, and oceanography, woman or man.
Due to the march 23, 2020 nm doh public health order, these event listings are not accurate. Felt had never met tharp, and did not start her work on this book in earnest until after tharps death in 2006. Heezen was the son of charles christian heezen and esther shirding. Gr 24in this excellent biography of scientist marie tharp, burleigh, writing in the first person, allows this adept geologist and oceanographic cartographer to tell her own story. In this picturebook biography, burleigh presents tharps story in her own enthusiastic, imagined voice. Marie tharp, oceanographic cartographer, and her contributions to. Dec 28, 2012 also, oceanographic cartographers bruce heezen and marie tharp published images of the ocean floor obtained in the 1960s that show midocean ridges and undersea volcanoes that likely released large quantities of heat during past earth upheavals. Geologist marie tharp born 1920 is known for her maps of ocean floors. As a child, she was quite the adventurer and was very. Meet marie tharp 19202006, the first person to map the earths underwater mountain ridge, in this inspiring picture book biography from the author of shark lady. Marie tharp july 30, 1920 august 23, 2006 was an american geologist and oceanographic cartographer who, in partnership with bruce heezen, created the first scientific map of the atlantic ocean floor. Raul colon this illustrated biography shares the story of female scientist, marie tharp, a pioneering woman scientist and the first person to ever successfully map the ocean floor. Marie tharp american oceanographic cartographer britannica.
Depths shown by land form drawings, shading, gradient tints, and soundings. Marie tharp, an oceanographic cartographer who drew pioneering maps of the worlds oceans and whose observations from the late 1950s through the 1970s helped scientists reconsider the geology of the seafloor, has died. Mapping the deep blue oceans 2 at a recent conference in france, bruce heezen, tharps longterm collaborator, had given cousteau a copy of the epochmaking 1957 physiographic diagram of the north atlantics ocean floor fig 1 that tharp had drawn from heezens deepsea sonar data. Lagniappe from her own account of her career, we learn that before earning graduate degrees in geology and mathematics, marie tharp doublemajored in english and music. A map of the mid atlantic ridge by marie tharp marie tharp historical map. The link between soil science and geology is personified in the american father and daughter. Marie tharp july 30, 1920 august 23, 2006 was an american geologist and oceanographic cartographer who, in partnership with bruce heezen, created the. Nearby, spread across several additional tables, lay her projectthe. Like other pioneering maps, the one by heezen and tharp is not complete and not always completely accurate. Before marie tharps groundbreaking work in the 1950s, the ocean floor was a mystery. Their first completed map of the north atlantic came out in 1957 followed by maps of the south atlantic and indian ocean in the early 1960s. Manuscript painting of heezentharp world ocean floor map. Without ever setting sail, marie tharp mapped the ocean floor and made a discovery that shook the foundations of geology.
Mar 08, 2012 in honor of international womens day my post today is about an important woman in map printing history. March 15, 2019 thanks to alissa simon, hmu tutor, for todays post. Not too many people can say this about their lives. Map lover tharp became one of the 20th centurys most important scientists, despite working in a field that greatly favored men. They noticed first that these ridges stretched on for thousands of kilometers in long, continuous mountain chains that wound around the earths surface, almost. Reading this book, one would think that ewing was the boss from hellthis is not revealed if one reads the few pages written about the three of them in the mapmakersby john noble wilford 1981. Twelve perspectives on the first fifty years 19491999.
A mountain of snow after the genesis flood the institute. Nyack, new york 1, 23 august 2006, cartography, seafloor mapping, oceanography. Despite being a woman in a male dominated career, her work helped bring to life the unknown ocean world, and helped prove important information about our earths development. Mapping out the hidden world of women cartographers. Jan 30, 2014 marie tharp, one of the women you profile was recognized by the national geographic society when she received the hubbard medal for distinction in discovery, exploration and research in 1978.
At age 86 she died of cancer according lamontdoherty earth observatory of columbia university marie obtained a bachelors degree in english and music from ohio university in 1943 and masters degree in 1944 in geology. It is, nonetheless, one of the most remarkable achievements in modern cartography. Her observations became crucial to the eventual acceptance of the theories of plate tectonics and continental drift in the earth sciences. Marie tharp was an american geologist and oceanographic cartographer who helped create the first and most famous scientific map of the entire ocean floor in 1977. Making a mark on the ocean floor smithsonian ocean. These maps are helpful in showing the structure and evolution of the sea floors. Honoring marie tharp, oceanographic cartographer, for. Soundings is the story of the enigmatic, unknown woman behind one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. Download citation marie tharp, oceanographic cartographer, and her contributions to the revolution in the earth sciences in the early 1950s, two american. Soundings is an eloquent testament both to tharps importance and to felts powers of imagination. Four facts about marie tharp, the woman whose art mapped the. Introduction marie tharp produced one of the worlds first maps of the ocean floor.
In honor of international womens day my post today is about an important woman in map printing history. Last weeks blog took a look at artemisia, an ancient female mariner. Marie tharp, oceanographic cartographer, and her contributions to the revolution in the earth sciences. It may come as a surprise then, that one of the most influential oceanographic cartographers mapmakers of the 20th century was a woman, and she achieved such status without even stepping foot on a boat. Scientists determined that the creature called dickinsonia, a flat, mushroomtopshaped creature that roamed the ocean floor roughly 580 million years ago, is the earliest known animal. Ocean speaks by jess keating introduces kids to marie tharp, an oceanographic cartographer. For almost 20 years, tharp worked on mapping out the mountains, ridges, and canyons of the ocean floor, which was. Originally published in the britannica book of the year. A century of maps january 1998 library of congress. Tharp was born in michigan and majored in english and music in college. For 30 years, oceanographic cartographer marie tharp and marine geologist bruce heezen compiled the first comprehensive physiographic diagram of the ocean floor. Available also through the library of congress web site as a raster image. Marie tharp was born on july 30, 1920 in ypsilanti michigan.
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