Marie Tharp

Marie Tharp was a pioneering American geologist and oceanographic cartographer who significantly advanced our understanding of the ocean floor. In the mid-20th century, she created the first comprehensive maps of the Atlantic Ocean, revealing the mid-ocean ridge and supporting the theory of plate tectonics. Her meticulous work provided crucial insights into the Earth's structure and the processes shaping it. Despite facing gender discrimination in a male-dominated field, Tharp's contributions laid the groundwork for modern oceanography and had a lasting impact on Earth sciences, demonstrating the importance of mapping underwater geological features.