Harold Wellman
Encyclopedia
Harold Wellman DSc FRSNZ (1909–1999) was a New Zealand
geologist known for his work on plate tectonics
.
He is notable for his discovery of South Island's Alpine Fault
. Wellman became a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand
in 1954, and was awarded the Hector Memorial Medal
and Prize in 1957 and the McKay Hammer Award in 1959.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
geologist known for his work on plate tectonics
Plate tectonics
Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere...
.
He is notable for his discovery of South Island's Alpine Fault
Alpine Fault
The Alpine Fault is a geological fault, more specifically known as a right-lateral strike-slip fault, that runs almost the entire length of New Zealand's South Island. It forms a transform boundary between the Pacific Plate and the Indo-Australian Plate. Earthquakes along the fault, and the...
. Wellman became a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Royal Society of New Zealand
The Royal Society of New Zealand , known as the New Zealand Institute before 1933, was established in 1867 to co-ordinate and assist the activities of a number of regional research societies including the Auckland Institute, the Wellington Philosophical Society, the Philosophical Institute of...
in 1954, and was awarded the Hector Memorial Medal
Hector Memorial Medal
The Hector Memorial Medal is awarded annually for outstanding contribution to the advancement of the particular branch of science. It is awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand in memory of Sir James Hector...
and Prize in 1957 and the McKay Hammer Award in 1959.