Earth and Environment Atlas

How The Planet Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Scientist

John Tuzo Wilson

Also Known As J. Tuzo Wilson · J Tuzo Wilson · John T. Wilson
Geophysicist

A Canadian geophysicist who supplied two of plate tectonics' decisive arguments: that the age progression of the Hawaiian islands records a plate sliding over a fixed mantle hotspot, and that mid-ocean ridges are offset by a then-unrecognized kind of fault, the transform, whose predicted motion was soon confirmed by seismology. A late and vocal convert from fixed-continent thinking, he became one of the new theory's most effective champions. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Birth Date
1908-10-24 1
Birth Year
1908 1
Death Date
1993-04-15 1
Death Year
1993 1
Birthplace
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 1
Death Place
Toronto 2
Nationality
Canadian 1
Defining Contribution
Explained the Hawaiian island chain as the track of a plate moving over a stationary hotspot (1963) and introduced the transform fault (1965), two of the keystones that turned seafloor spreading into the full theory of plate tectonics; the Wilson cycle of ocean basins opening and closing bears his name. 1
Connections

Associated With

Source Kevin C. A. Burke (Wikipedia)

Transform faults and the hotspot explanation of Hawaii are two of plate tectonics' keystone arguments.

Source John Tuzo Wilson (Wikipedia)

Concepts Credited

Mantle Plume, Concepts

Mantle plumes were first proposed by J. Tuzo Wilson in 1963.

Source Mantle Plume (Wikipedia)

Wilson conceived of the transform fault, a major plate boundary where two plates move past each other horizontally.

Source John Tuzo Wilson (Wikipedia)

Namesake Of

Named in recognition of Wilson's observation that the present-day Atlantic appears along a former suture zone.

Source Wilson Cycle (Wikipedia)

Works In

Geology, Disciplines
Source John Tuzo Wilson (Wikipedia)

Canadian geophysicist acclaimed for his contributions to plate tectonics.

Source John Tuzo Wilson (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Nationality

Also in Geography Atlas: the nationality of this subject.

Source Wikidata: John Tuzo Wilson
Sources
1. John Tuzo Wilson (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section
Quote, Lead section
John Tuzo Wilson (October 24, 1908 - April 15, 1993) was a Canadian geophysicist, geologist and professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga who achieved worldwide acclaim for his contributions to the theory of plate tectonics.
View the Source
2. John Tuzo Wilson (Wikidata)
  • P20 (place of death)
    died in Toronto
  • Wikidata item aliases (en) [1]
    also known as J. Tuzo Wilson
  • Wikidata item aliases (en) [2]
    also known as J Tuzo Wilson
  • Wikidata item aliases (en) [3]
    also known as John T. Wilson
  • P27 (country of citizenship) [1]
    citizen of Canada
  • P19 (place of birth) [1]
    born in Ottawa
View the Source
Wikidata: John Tuzo Wilson
Wikidata Q472056, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Kevin C. A. Burke (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Kevin C. A. Burke, Biography section
Quote, Associated With: Kevin C. A. Burke, Biography section
became a close associate of J. Tuzo Wilson, who at that time was one of the most prominent proponents of plate tectonics
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.