Bruce C. Heezen

Bruce Charles Heezen ( born April 11, 1924 in Vinton, Benton County, Iowa; † 21 June 1977) was an American geologist.

Heezen received the bachelor's degree from Iowa State University, 1952 Master's from Columbia University in 1957 and Doctor of Philosophy. He was best known as the leader of a team ( which also includes Marie Tharp belonged ) at Columbia University, who discovered the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the 1950s and mapped, and measured the other mid-ocean ridges ( " Heezen - Tharp physiographic maps "). This and many other writings Heezens were for the development of the theory of plate tectonics is of great importance.

Heezen died in 1977 during a research trip where the team explored the mid-ocean ridges off Iceland with the submarine NR- 1, of a heart attack. The oceanographic survey ship USNS Bruce C. Heezen (T- AGS -64) was named after him in 1991.