Vladimir Belousov
Encyclopedia
Vladimir Vladimirovich E. Belousov ' onMouseout='HidePop("88503")' href="/topics/Moscow">Moscow
- December 25, 1990) was an Earth scientist
in the Soviet Union
, and a prominent advocate of alternatives to the theories of plate tectonics
and seafloor spreading
during the period of the 20th century in which debate on these subjects was most intense.
Beloussov was head of the Geodynamics Department of the Institute of the Physics of the Earth in Moscow
(from 1944), a corresponding member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences (from 1953), and a professor at both the Moscow Geological Surveyance Institute (from 1943) and Moscow State University
(from 1953). He was also a Foreign Member of Geological Society of London
.
During the 1960s he led three expeditions to the Rift Valley
of East Africa
to study continental structure and the Earth's mantle
. These trips fuelled his idea that continental crust
was transformed to oceanic crust
by widespread processes involving basic magma
s.
Although his theories were ultimately unsuccessful within the scientific community
, he was an important figure in the development of the Earth sciences within the Soviet union following the Second World War.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
- December 25, 1990) was an Earth scientist
Earth science
Earth science is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. It is arguably a special case in planetary science, the Earth being the only known life-bearing planet. There are both reductionist and holistic approaches to Earth sciences...
in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, and a prominent advocate of alternatives to the theories of plate tectonics
Plate tectonics
Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere...
and seafloor spreading
Seafloor spreading
Seafloor spreading is a process that occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity and then gradually moves away from the ridge. Seafloor spreading helps explain continental drift in the theory of plate tectonics....
during the period of the 20th century in which debate on these subjects was most intense.
Beloussov was head of the Geodynamics Department of the Institute of the Physics of the Earth in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
(from 1944), a corresponding member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences (from 1953), and a professor at both the Moscow Geological Surveyance Institute (from 1943) and Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
(from 1953). He was also a Foreign Member of Geological Society of London
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
.
During the 1960s he led three expeditions to the Rift Valley
Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
of East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
to study continental structure and the Earth's mantle
Mantle (geology)
The mantle is a part of a terrestrial planet or other rocky body large enough to have differentiation by density. The interior of the Earth, similar to the other terrestrial planets, is chemically divided into layers. The mantle is a highly viscous layer between the crust and the outer core....
. These trips fuelled his idea that continental crust
Continental crust
The continental crust is the layer of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks which form the continents and the areas of shallow seabed close to their shores, known as continental shelves. This layer is sometimes called sial due to more felsic, or granitic, bulk composition, which lies in...
was transformed to oceanic crust
Oceanic crust
Oceanic crust is the part of Earth's lithosphere that surfaces in the ocean basins. Oceanic crust is primarily composed of mafic rocks, or sima, which is rich in iron and magnesium...
by widespread processes involving basic magma
Magma
Magma is a mixture of molten rock, volatiles and solids that is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and is expected to exist on other terrestrial planets. Besides molten rock, magma may also contain suspended crystals and dissolved gas and sometimes also gas bubbles. Magma often collects in...
s.
Although his theories were ultimately unsuccessful within the scientific community
Scientific community
The scientific community consists of the total body of scientists, its relationships and interactions. It is normally divided into "sub-communities" each working on a particular field within science. Objectivity is expected to be achieved by the scientific method...
, he was an important figure in the development of the Earth sciences within the Soviet union following the Second World War.