Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory - (n.)

One of the leading oceanographic institutes in the USA, it is engaged in a wide variety of studies concerning the solid Earth, the ocean and the atmosphere. It was prominent in the history of discoveries leading to the understanding of plate tectonics. It was founded in 1949 by Maurice Ewing (1906-1974) and named the "Lamont Geological Observatory" after the estate of Thomas W. Lamont upon which it was built.