Edward Bullard facts for kids

Sir Edward Crisp Bullard (born September 21, 1907 – died April 3, 1980) was an important British scientist. He was a geophysicist, which means he studied the Earth's physical processes. Many people consider him, along with Maurice Ewing, to be a founder of marine geophysics. This field focuses on the geology and physics of the ocean floor.

Sir Edward made many discoveries about our planet. He helped develop the idea of the geodynamo, which explains how the Earth's magnetic field is created. He also used seismology (the study of earthquakes and waves) to learn about the seafloor. He measured how much heat comes from inside the Earth through the ocean crust. Plus, he found new evidence that supported the idea of continental drift, which is how continents move over time.

Early Life and Studies

Edward Bullard was born into a wealthy family in Norwich, England. He went to Norwich School and later studied Natural Sciences at Clare College, Cambridge.

He learned from a famous scientist named Ernest Rutherford at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge. In the 1930s, he earned his PhD in nuclear physics.

During the Great Depression, it was hard to find a job. Since nuclear physics wasn't a stable career at the time, he decided to switch to geophysics.

In 1931, Bullard started working at the geodesy and geophysics department at Cambridge. This department was quite new and small. With the help of others, including Harold Jeffreys, this small group of scientists made a big impact on the field of geophysics in just eight years.

During World War II, he worked on special techniques called degaussing. This helped protect ships from magnetic mines.

Career and Discoveries

Sir Edward Bullard held important positions throughout his career. From 1948 to 1950, he worked at the University of Toronto. Then, from 1950 to 1955, he was the head of the National Physical Laboratory in the UK. He was given the title of "Sir" in 1953, meaning he was knighted.

He returned to Cambridge in 1955 and continued his research there. He became one of the most important geophysicists of his time. Even though he often got seasick, he still studied the ocean floor!

One of his most important works was about the dynamo theory. This theory helps explain how the Earth's magnetic field is created deep inside the planet. He also won many awards for his work, including the Hughes Medal and the Vetlesen Prize.

In the early 1960s, Sir Edward and his team used computers to try and fit all the continents together. Instead of using the coastlines, they used a depth of 914 meters (about 3,000 feet) below sea level. This depth shows the true edge of the continents, not just the shoreline.

By doing this, they found that the continents fit together almost perfectly! This discovery strongly supported the idea of a supercontinent called Pangaea. This idea was first suggested by an earlier geophysicist named Alfred Wegener.

After retiring from Cambridge in 1974, he moved to the University of California, San Diego. Sir Edward Bullard passed away in La Jolla, California, in 1980. His important papers and research notes are kept at the Churchill Archives Centre.

See also

In Spanish: Edward Bullard para niños

• List of geophysicists