Science
Marie Tharp pioneered mapping the bottom of the ocean 6 decades ago – scientists are still learning about Earth’s last frontier – The Conversation US
Born on July 30, 1920, geologist and cartographer Tharp changed scientific thinking about what lay at the bottom of the ocean – not a featureless flat, but rugged and varied terrain.
Despite all the deep-sea expeditions and samples taken from the seabed over the past 100 years, humans still know very little about the oceans deepest reaches. And there are good reasons to learn more.
Most tsunamis start with earthquakes under or near the ocean floor. The seafloor provides habitat for fish, corals and complex communities of microbes, crustaceans and other organisms. Its topography controls currents that distribute heat, helping to regulate Earths climate.
Hand-painted rendit…
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