Science Atlas

How We Know What We Know
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Scientist

Peter R. Vail

Earth Sciences

Peter R. Vail was an American geologist and geophysicist who lived from 1930 to 2024 and spent much of his career at Rice University as the W. Maurice Ewing Professor Emeritus of Earth Science, credited with founding the discipline of seismic stratigraphy through his recognition that seismic reflections align with geologic time surfaces rather than lithologic boundaries. He is best known for developing the Vail curve documenting global sea level fluctuations through geologic history. He received the Benjamin Franklin Medal in 2005 for his pioneering work in sequence stratigraphy, along with the Sidney Powers Memorial Award and the Legendary Geoscientist Award of the American Geological Institute. He received the Penrose Medal in 2003.

Facts
Birth Year
1930 1
Birth Date
1930-01-13 1
Death Date
2024-12-28 1
Death Year
2024 1
Field
Geology and geophysics 1
Nationality
American 1
Field
Field (category)
Physics 1
Field (category)
Earth Science 1
Connections

Member Of

Source Peter Vail (Wikipedia)
Source Peter Vail (Wikipedia)

Works In

Geology, Disciplines
Source Peter Vail (Wikipedia)
Source Peter Vail (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Nationality

Also in Geography Atlas: the nationality of this subject.

Source Peter Vail - WikipediaLead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article
Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article
Peter R. Vail (January 13, 1930 – December 28, 2024) was an American geologist and geophysicist, the namesake of the Vail curve of sea level changes.
Sources
1. Peter Vail - Wikipedia
  • Extract, opening sentence
    January 13, 1930
  • Extract, opening sentence [death-date]
    December 28, 2024
  • Extract, opening sentence [death-year]
    December 28, 2024
  • Extract, opening sentence [field]
    an American geologist and geophysicist
  • Extract, opening sentence [nationality]
    an American geologist and geophysicist
View the Source
Peter Vail (Wikipedia)
  • Member Of: Dartmouth College, Lead
    Vail earned his AB at Dartmouth College in 1952, followed by M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Northwestern University in 1956.
  • Member Of: Northwestern University, Lead
    Vail earned his AB at Dartmouth College in 1952, followed by M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Northwestern University in 1956.
  • Works In: Geology, Lead sentence
    Peter R. Vail (January 13, 1930, December 28, 2024) was an American geologist and geophysicist, the namesake of the Vail curve of sea level changes.
  • Works In: Geophysics, Lead sentence
    Peter R. Vail (January 13, 1930, December 28, 2024) was an American geologist and geophysicist, the namesake of the Vail curve of sea level changes.
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.