Harry Hess (oceanographer)

Harry Hess was an influential oceanographer and geologist who proposed the theory of seafloor spreading in the 1960s. He suggested that new oceanic crust forms at mid-ocean ridges and then slowly moves away, causing continents to drift. This idea helped explain the Earth's shifting surface and supported the development of plate tectonics. Hess’s work transformed our understanding of Earth's geological processes, showing that the ocean floors are dynamic and continuously changing rather than static features. His contributions are fundamental to modern geology and our comprehension of Earth's inner workings.