author
W. Maurice (William Maurice) Ewing
1906–1974
A pioneering geophysicist and oceanographer, he helped open up the deep oceans to modern scientific study. His work on seismology, ocean basins, and underwater sound made him one of the key figures in twentieth-century earth science.
1 Audiobook
The Floors of the Ocean: 1. The North Atlantic Text to accompany the physiographic diagram of the North Atlantic
by Bruce C. Heezen, W. Maurice (William Maurice) Ewing, Marie Tharp
About the author
Born in Lockney, Texas, on May 12, 1906, William Maurice Ewing—usually known simply as Maurice or "Doc" Ewing—studied physics and mathematics at Rice Institute, where he earned his degrees and began the research career that would shape modern geophysics.
Ewing became famous for bringing powerful physical methods to the study of the oceans. He was a pioneer in seismic work at sea, ocean-bottom photography, deep-sea core sampling, and research on underwater sound, including the SOFAR channel. His investigations helped scientists better understand marine sediments and the structure of ocean basins.
He is also closely tied to Columbia University’s Lamont Geological Observatory, later Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, which he led into prominence as a major center for earth and ocean science. Ewing died in Galveston, Texas, on May 4, 1974, but his influence remains strong in the way researchers study the planet’s oceans and crust.