For millions of years the plates
that make up the surface of the Earth have constantly been
moving about. Scientists were able to come to this
conclusion based off of the geologic rock record. When an
igneous body of rock cools, the magnetic materials contained
inside of it align themselves in the direction of the
magnetic field at that time (Glen
83). Some sedimentary rocks are also used in
determining paleomagnetism. Sedimentary rocks are primarily
composed of the weathering of other rocks and sometimes
contain magnetic materials that align with the magnetic
field at time of lithification (Glen
83). Edward A. Irving is a geophysicist who
specializes in paleomagnitism and his research lead to "the
first physical evidence of the theory of continental drift"
(Davis). Below is a brief
timeline of Irving's life and accomplishments.
Timeline
1927: Edward A. Irving was born in
1927 in Lancashire, England.
1945: Irving was drafted into the
British army, serving in the Middle East Infantry.
1948: Irving started at Cambridge
University with an emphasis in Geology.
1951: Irving completed his B.A. at
Cambridge.
Irving started working as a Research Assistant for Keith
Runcorn in the Geology Department at Cambridge.
1952: Irving entered Graduate School
studying the Earth's magnetic field.
1954: Irving was denied a Ph.D due to
the newness of studying ancient latitudes.
1964: While studying in Australia,
Irving met his wife, Sheila, and moved to Ottawa, Canada.
1967-81: Irving became a research
scientist at the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources
in the Earth Physics Branch.
1981: Irving established a
Paleomagnetism Laboratory in Sidney, British Columbia at the
Pacific Geoscience Centre.
1979: Irving was made a fellow of the
Royal Society of London.
2003: Irving was awarded the Order of
Canada.
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References |
Information
to make up the timeline was taken from the source (Edward).