Allan V. Cox
Encyclopedia
Allan Verne Cox was an American geophysicist. His work on dating geomagnetic reversals, with Richard Doell
and Brent Dalrymple
, made a major contribution to the theory of plate tectonics
. Allan Cox won numerous awards, including the prestigious Vetlesen Prize
, and was the president of the American Geophysical Union
. He was the author of two books on plate tectonics and over a hundred scientific papers.
at the University of California, Berkeley
. However, after a single quarter he left school and spent three years in the United States Merchant Marine
. He returned to Berkeley, but had so little interest in chemistry that his grades were too low to avoid being drafted into the United States Army
. When he returned, he switched his major to geology
. For his graduate research at the University of California, Berkeley
, Cox concentrated on rock magnetism
with John Verhoogen as his supervisor. Verhoogen was one of the few geologists of the time who took the hypothesis of continental drift
seriously. His stance made a deep impression on Cox.
After receiving his Ph.D. in 1959, Cox joined the United States Geological Survey
in Menlo Park, California
. There he collaborated with another geophysicist, Richard Doell
, on rock magnetism. The two were particularly interested in geomagnetic reversals. At the time, very little was known about the timing of reversals. The rock specimens they collected were too young (a few millions of years) to date accurately until the potassium-argon dating
method was developed. Cox and Doell arranged for the USGS to hire Brent Dalrymple
, a graduate from Berkeley
with expertise in this method. The three succeeded in creating the first geomagnetic polarity time scale. This work made possible the first test, by Frederick Vine and Drummond Matthews
, of the seafloor spreading
hypothesis.
Cox was hired as a professor at Stanford University
in 1967. He became Dean of the School of Earth Sciences in 1979 and demonstrated a talent for administration that was widely acknowledged by his colleagues.
Cox died in a bicycle accident, colliding with a large redwood tree after falling off a cliff on Tunitas Creek
road, in the mountains Northwest of Stanford University
. Since he was normally very safety conscious and had exceptionally not worn a helmet on that day, it is believed that his death may have been a carefully planned suicide. A possible reason for this was an ongoing police investigation of an alleged illicit relation with a minor. On March 13, 1987, the San Francisco Chronicle
reported that the San Mateo County
coroner had concluded that Cox's death was a suicide. On January 30, 1987, the San Jose Mercury News
reported that Cox's death came five days after he learned he was going to be charged with child molestation. Cox allegedly had molested the son of one of his graduate students since the boy was fourteen years old. According to the March 13, 1987, story in the San Francisco Chronicle, Cox had told the father of the molested child that he would kill himself if the allegations were reported to the police.
, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
, and the American Philosophical Society
. In 1969 the American Geophysical Union
awarded him the John Adam Fleming
medal for research in geomagnetism;. In 1970 he was awarded the prestigious Vetlesen Prize
, along with G. Brent Dalrymple, Richard Doell
and S. Keith Runcorn
, for contributions to geology
and geophysics
. In 1976 the Geological Society of America
awarded him the Arthur L. Day Medal
for the application of physics
and chemistry
to the solution of geologic
problems. He was the president of the American Geophysical Union
from 1978 to 1980. In 1984 the United States National Academy of Sciences
awarded him the Arthur L. Day Prize and Lectureship
.
After his death, a number of memorials to him were created. The American Geophysical Union had the annual Allan Cox Lecture from 1998 to 2001; this lecture was replaced by the Edward Bullard lecture. The Geological Society of America (Geophysics Division) selects a student each year for the Allan V. Cox Student Research Award; and Stanford University awards the Allan Cox Medal for Faculty Excellence Fostering Undergraduate Research.
Richard Doell
Richard Doell was a distinguished American scientist known for developing the time scale for geomagnetic reversals with Allan V. Cox and Brent Dalrymple. This work was a major step in the development of plate tectonics...
and Brent Dalrymple
Brent Dalrymple
G. Brent Dalrymple is an American geologist, author of The Age of the Earth and Ancient Earth, Ancient Skies, and National Medal of Science winner....
, made a major contribution to the theory of plate tectonics
Plate tectonics
Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere...
. Allan Cox won numerous awards, including the prestigious Vetlesen Prize
Vetlesen Prize
The Vetlesen Prize is awarded from Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and the G. Unger Vetlesen Foundation.-Background:The Vetlesen Prize has been described as an attempt to establish an equivalent of a Nobel award for geophysics or geology...
, and was the president of the American Geophysical Union
American Geophysical Union
The American Geophysical Union is a nonprofit organization of geophysicists, consisting of over 50,000 members from over 135 countries. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics...
. He was the author of two books on plate tectonics and over a hundred scientific papers.
Biography
Cox began studying chemistryChemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. However, after a single quarter he left school and spent three years in the United States Merchant Marine
United States Merchant Marine
The United States Merchant Marine refers to the fleet of U.S. civilian-owned merchant vessels, operated by either the government or the private sector, that engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the United States. The Merchant Marine is...
. He returned to Berkeley, but had so little interest in chemistry that his grades were too low to avoid being drafted into the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. When he returned, he switched his major to geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
. For his graduate research at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, Cox concentrated on rock magnetism
Rock magnetism
Rock magnetism is the study of the magnetic properties of rocks, sediments and soils. The field arose out of the need in paleomagnetism to understand how rocks record the Earth's magnetic field. This remanence is carried by minerals, particularly certain strongly magnetic minerals like magnetite...
with John Verhoogen as his supervisor. Verhoogen was one of the few geologists of the time who took the hypothesis of continental drift
Continental drift
Continental drift is the movement of the Earth's continents relative to each other. The hypothesis that continents 'drift' was first put forward by Abraham Ortelius in 1596 and was fully developed by Alfred Wegener in 1912...
seriously. His stance made a deep impression on Cox.
After receiving his Ph.D. in 1959, Cox joined the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
in Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City...
. There he collaborated with another geophysicist, Richard Doell
Richard Doell
Richard Doell was a distinguished American scientist known for developing the time scale for geomagnetic reversals with Allan V. Cox and Brent Dalrymple. This work was a major step in the development of plate tectonics...
, on rock magnetism. The two were particularly interested in geomagnetic reversals. At the time, very little was known about the timing of reversals. The rock specimens they collected were too young (a few millions of years) to date accurately until the potassium-argon dating
Potassium-argon dating
Potassium–argon dating or K–Ar dating is a radiometric dating method used in geochronology and archeology. It is based on measurement of the product of the radioactive decay of an isotope of potassium into argon . Potassium is a common element found in many materials, such as micas, clay minerals,...
method was developed. Cox and Doell arranged for the USGS to hire Brent Dalrymple
Brent Dalrymple
G. Brent Dalrymple is an American geologist, author of The Age of the Earth and Ancient Earth, Ancient Skies, and National Medal of Science winner....
, a graduate from Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
with expertise in this method. The three succeeded in creating the first geomagnetic polarity time scale. This work made possible the first test, by Frederick Vine and Drummond Matthews
Drummond Matthews
Drummond Hoyle Matthews FRS was a British marine geologist and geophysicist and a key contributor to the theory of plate tectonics...
, of the 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....
hypothesis.
Cox was hired as a professor at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1967. He became Dean of the School of Earth Sciences in 1979 and demonstrated a talent for administration that was widely acknowledged by his colleagues.
Cox died in a bicycle accident, colliding with a large redwood tree after falling off a cliff on Tunitas Creek
Tunitas Creek
Tunitas Creek is a stream in San Mateo County, California. Tunitas is Spanish for "Little Prickly Pears". Historically the creek was also known as Arroyo de Las Tunitas....
road, in the mountains Northwest of Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. Since he was normally very safety conscious and had exceptionally not worn a helmet on that day, it is believed that his death may have been a carefully planned suicide. A possible reason for this was an ongoing police investigation of an alleged illicit relation with a minor. On March 13, 1987, the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
reported that the San Mateo County
San Mateo County, California
San Mateo County is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. It covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula just south of San Francisco, and north of Santa Clara County. San Francisco International Airport is located at the northern end of the county, and...
coroner had concluded that Cox's death was a suicide. On January 30, 1987, the San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News
The San Jose Mercury News is a daily newspaper in San Jose, California. On its web site, however, it calls itself Silicon Valley Mercury News. The paper is owned by MediaNews Group...
reported that Cox's death came five days after he learned he was going to be charged with child molestation. Cox allegedly had molested the son of one of his graduate students since the boy was fourteen years old. According to the March 13, 1987, story in the San Francisco Chronicle, Cox had told the father of the molested child that he would kill himself if the allegations were reported to the police.
Honors
Cox was elected to the United States National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
, and the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
. In 1969 the American Geophysical Union
American Geophysical Union
The American Geophysical Union is a nonprofit organization of geophysicists, consisting of over 50,000 members from over 135 countries. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics...
awarded him the John Adam Fleming
John Adam Fleming
John Adam Fleming, was an American physicist interested in the magnetosphere and the atmospheric electricity....
medal for research in geomagnetism;. In 1970 he was awarded the prestigious Vetlesen Prize
Vetlesen Prize
The Vetlesen Prize is awarded from Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and the G. Unger Vetlesen Foundation.-Background:The Vetlesen Prize has been described as an attempt to establish an equivalent of a Nobel award for geophysics or geology...
, along with G. Brent Dalrymple, Richard Doell
Richard Doell
Richard Doell was a distinguished American scientist known for developing the time scale for geomagnetic reversals with Allan V. Cox and Brent Dalrymple. This work was a major step in the development of plate tectonics...
and S. Keith Runcorn
Keith Runcorn
Stanley Keith Runcorn FRS was a British physicist whose paleomagnetic reconstruction of the relative motions of Europe and America revived the theory of continental drift and was a major contribution to plate tectonics.-Biography:He was born in Southport, Lancashire and graduated in engineering...
, for contributions to geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and geophysics
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
. In 1976 the Geological Society of America
Geological Society of America
The Geological Society of America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the geosciences. The society was founded in New York in 1888 by Alexander Winchell, John J. Stevenson, Charles H. Hitchcock, John R. Proctor and Edward Orton and has been headquartered at 3300 Penrose...
awarded him the Arthur L. Day Medal
Arthur L. Day Medal
The Arthur L. Day Medal is a prize awarded by the Geological Society of America, established in 1948 by Arthur Louis Day for "outstanding distinction in contributing to geologic knowledge through the application of physics and chemistry to the solution of geologic problems"....
for the application of physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
to the solution of geologic
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
problems. He was the president of the American Geophysical Union
American Geophysical Union
The American Geophysical Union is a nonprofit organization of geophysicists, consisting of over 50,000 members from over 135 countries. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics...
from 1978 to 1980. In 1984 the United States National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
awarded him the Arthur L. Day Prize and Lectureship
Arthur L. Day Prize and Lectureship
The Arthur L. Day Prize and Lectureship is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences "to a scientist making new contributions to the physics of the Earth whose four to six lectures would prove a solid, timely, and useful addition to the knowledge and literature in the field." The prize was...
.
After his death, a number of memorials to him were created. The American Geophysical Union had the annual Allan Cox Lecture from 1998 to 2001; this lecture was replaced by the Edward Bullard lecture. The Geological Society of America (Geophysics Division) selects a student each year for the Allan V. Cox Student Research Award; and Stanford University awards the Allan Cox Medal for Faculty Excellence Fostering Undergraduate Research.