Bruce C. Heezen

Bruce C. Heezen was an American oceanographer who played a significant role in the development of the theory of seafloor spreading. This theory, proposed by Harry H. Hess, suggests that new oceanic crust forms at mid-ocean ridges and spreads outward, a concept that revolutionized geology in the late 20th century. Heezen's work, alongside cartographer Marie Tharp, helped map the extensive underwater mountain ranges, such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, providing crucial evidence for these geological processes. His contributions were instrumental in understanding plate tectonics and the dynamic nature of Earth's crust.123