Web Resources in the History of Geophysics

compiled by
Shaun J. Hardy (Carnegie Institution of Washington)
Roy E.Goodman (American Philosophical Society)




Geophysics -- the physics of the Earth -- is a comparatively young science. Evolving into a distinct discipline only in the 19th Century, geophysics arose in the borderland between older, established sciences: physical geography, geology, astronomy, meteorology, and physics. Yet "geophysical" phonemena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, auroras, and lightning had been objects of curiosity and speculation since ancient times. In the 20th Century, the discoveries of cosmic rays, the core and mantle of the Earth, seafloor spreading, and El Nino illustrated the evolution and maturing of the geophysical sciences, which are now generally considered to include: solid earth geophysics, atmospheric and ocean sciences, hydrologic sciences, and space sciences.

Like the science itself, the history of geophysics overlaps discipline boundaries. Internet resources in the history of geology, physics, astronomy, and oceanography all may contain material relevant to the history of geophysical ideas, experiments, and exploration, and the stories of geophysicists and their institutions. The online articles, bibliographies, and metasites (collections of web links) listed below are freely available on the Internet and all have at least some geophysics component. They range from educational sites written for the general public to lists of archival repositories and databases of interest to professional historians of science.


Starting Points:  General Resource Sites

Astronomiae Historia/History of Astronomy
(by Wolfgang R. Dick)
Metasite with many history of science links, not limited to astronomy: museums, institutions, organizations, bibliographies, libraries/archives, booksellers, and more.

GeoClio: Webserver for the History of Geology and the Geosciences
(by Dean A. Dunn and Theodore S. Feldman)
Electronic clearinghouse for information of interest to researchers in the history of earth sciences: discussion lists, project announcements, new books and papers, links to professional societies and archives.

History of Geology and the Geosciences
(Comité français d'Histoire de la Géologie)
Metasite with links to many Web pages in the history of the earth sciences, with an emphasis on France: online bibliographies, databases, societies, research centers, museums, etc.

History of the Earth Sciences Society
General information about HESS plus abstracts of all papers in the journal "Earth Sciences History" back to its inception in 1982.

Selected Web Resources in the History of Science
(by Marianne Stowell Bracke and Paul J. Bracke)
Excellent introduction to available history of science material on the Web (metasites, journals, databases, research centers, organizations, biographies, etc,), though little related specificially to the earth sciences.

Web Sites for the History of Science
(American Institute of Physics, Center for the History of Physics.)
Extensive collection of links to web sites, online source materials, and web exhibits in the history of physics, astronomy, and geophysics; directories for history of science community; International Catalog of Sources for History of Physics and Allied Fields.

Wind and Sea: History of Oceanic and Atmospheric Science
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Good source for the history of meteorology, oceanography, mapping, charting, and surveying; links to photo resources; general information on the history of science.

WWW Virtual Library for the History of Science, Technology & Medicine
(by Tim Sherratt)
Gateway to online exhibitions, biographical sources, history of science web sites, institutions, etc. organized alphabetically and by discipline. No longer maintained (last updated 1998), but still a wide-ranging and interesting site.

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Biographies

Biographies of Geophysicists
Brief biographies of geophysicists for whom American Geophysical Union medals and awards have been named.

Biographies of Geophysicists
Brief biographies of geophysicists for whom European Geophysical Society and European Geosciences Union awards and medals have been named.

Biographisches Lexikon zur Geschichte der Geophysik
(by Walther Kerz, Ruth Kerz, and Karl-Heinz Glassmeier)
German-language biographies of many famous geophysicists. (Site under construction.)

Earth Scientists
Yahoo's guide to biographies of famous earth scientists, including geophysicists, meteorologists, and oceanographers.

History of Astronomy: Persons
(by Wolfgang R. Dick)
Exhaustive index to online biographies of more than 1750 persons -- includes many early geophysicists, physicists, and mathematicians, as well as astronomers -- plus pointers to numerous biographical sources.

History of Crystallography
(International Union of Crystallography)
Biographies of famous crystallographers and articles on historical topics.

Library of Geophysicists
(Society of Exploration Geophysicists)
Biographies of geophysicists and histories of organizations engaged in exploration geophysics.

Men and Women of Seismology
(National Earthquake Information Center)
Photos and biographies of famous seismologists.

On the Shoulders of Giants
(NASA Earth Observatory)
Biographical sketches of pioneers in the study of the atmosphere, oceans, climate, and environment.

Wind and Sea:  Biographical Information
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Biographies of famous meteorologists, oceanographers, and marine biologists.

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History of Organizations and Institutions

The Air Force's Geophysics Directorate: a 50th Anniversary Retrospective
(by Ruth P. Liebowitz)
Brief historical sketch of the founding and development of the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory and its research in meteorology and geophysics.

International Union of Geological Science: Historical Perspectives
Articles on the founding of the IUGS and the First International Geological Congress in 1876.

NASA History Office
Rich chronicle of American exploration of space, with detailed chronologies and descriptions of NASA lunar and planetary probes, human spacecraft missions, earth-monitoring satellites, and key documents in the history of US space policy.

NOAA History
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Online histories of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, National Weather Service, National Geodetic Survey, and other NOAA organizations; biographies of famous meteorologists, oceanographers, and marine biologists; photographs, historic maps and charts.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography History
Historical essays, biographies, photo galleries, and more.

The United States Coast Survey 1807-1867
(by Capt. Albert E. Theberge)
Online book detailing the founding and early years of the first science agency in the United States.

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Subject Histories

A Brief History of Seismology to 1910
(USCB Institute for Crustal Studies)
Very short, non-technical summary of the history of earthquake studies.

Cumulative Bibliography on the History of Oceanography
(by Jacqueline Carpine-Lancre and Deborah Day)
Searchable database of citations to published works from 1987 to the present, from the History of Oceanography Newsletter.

The Early History of Seismometry (to 1900)
(by James Dewey and Perry Byerly)
In-depth, technical history of the development of earthquake-detecting instrumentation.

The Exploration of the Earth's Magnetosphere
(by David P. Stern and Mauricio Peredo)
Extensive educational site devoted to the science and history of research on the Earth's environment in space: magnetospheric physics, auroras, solar physics, cosmic rays, etc. Includes timelines and glossary, plus many related references, links, and additional resources.

Geodesy for the Layman
(Defense Mapping Agency)
Introduction to basic principles of geodesy, with a brief section on history
.
The Great Magnet, the Earth
(by David P. Stern)
The history of geomagnetism, told in non-mathematical terms. Commemorates the 400th anniversary of William Gilbert's groundbreaking book "De Magnete."

Green-Flash and Mirage Bibliography
(by Andrew T. Young)
Extensively annotated bibliography of published references to mirages, green flashes, atmospheric refraction, etc. from antiquity to modern times.

Historical Development of Earth Rotation Knowledge
(by Jos Verheijen)
Brief article on geodynamics and timekeeping based on earth's rotation.

Historical Overview of Meteorology in America
(by James Rodger Fleming)
Concise, scholarly essay on the development of atmospheric sciences in the US, with a guide to relevant historical resources (archives, manuscripts, and special collections) in the Washington, DC area.

Seismology, the Jesuit Science
(by Joseph MacDonnell, S.J.)
Summary of Jesuit contributions to seismology in the United States, with lists of Jesuit seismological, geomagnetic, and meteorological observatories worldwide. Nice graphics illustrating basic seismological concepts.

This Dynamic Earth: the Story of Plate Tectonics
(by W. Jacquelyne Kious and Robert I. Tilling, U.S. Geological Survey)
Popular-level introduction to plate tectonics concepts; traces the development of ideas on continental drift, seafloor spreading, and continental drift, and includes biographical sketches of Alfred Wegener and Harry Hess.  Well illustrated.

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Museums and Online Exhibitions

Geophysics Virtual Museum
(Society of Exploration Geophysicists)
Online version of the SEG Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Photos and descriptions of extensive collection of magnetic, electric, seismic, and gravity instruments, with discussion of how they are used in geophyisical exploration.
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Online Journals

AIP Center for History of Physics Newsletter
(American Institute of Physics)
Reports on work in the history of physics, astronomy, and geophysics; "Recent Publications of Interest" (lists of books and journal articles); photographs; archival resources.
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 Updated September 19, 2005