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Keith Runcorn

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description Keith Runcorn Overview

Douglas Mawson was an Australian geologist and prominent Antarctic explorer who led the 1911 Australasian Antarctic Expedition. As a scientist, his primary focus was on documenting the continent's glaciology, terrestrial magnetism, and distinct geological formations. During his expeditions, Mawson surveyed extensive sections of the Antarctic coastline and made critical observations regarding the behavior of glaciers. His rigorous scientific approach laid the foundation for later Australian territorial claims and Antarctic research programs.

help Keith Runcorn FAQ

How did Keith Runcorn use magnetized rocks to support continental drift?

Runcorn's group measured the remanent magnetism preserved in European and North American rocks of different ages. Their apparent polar-wander paths did not align unless the continents had moved relative to one another.

Did Runcorn initially believe in continental drift?

No, he first explored whether the data could be explained entirely by movement of the magnetic poles. By the mid-1950s, he concluded that polar wandering alone was insufficient and became a strong advocate for continental drift.

Where did Keith Runcorn build his geophysics research group?

He became professor of physics at Newcastle in 1956 and developed an influential geophysics group there. His research expanded from terrestrial paleomagnetism to mantle convection and the Moon's magnetic and gravitational history.

What is the difference between polar wander and continental drift in Runcorn's work?

Polar wander describes a change in the apparent position of a magnetic pole recorded by rocks. Runcorn showed that differing paths from Europe and North America were best reconciled by moving the continents back toward their former positions.