The Expanding Earth

Developments in Geotectonics, 10: The Expanding Earth focuses on the principles, methodologies, transformations, and approaches involved in the expanding earth concept.

The book first elaborates on the development of the expanding earth concept, necessity for expansion, and the subduction myth. Discussions focus on higher velocity under Benioff zone, seismic attenuation, blue schists and paired metamorphic belts, dispersion of polygons, arctic paradox, and kinematic contrast. The manuscript then ponders on the scale of tectonic phenomena, non-uniformitarianism, tectonic profiles, and paleomagnetism. Concerns cover global paleomagnetism, general summary of the tectonic profile, implosions, fluid pressures, pure shear, crustal extension, simple shear with horizontal axis, geological examples of scale fields, and length-time fields of deformation.

The publication explores the cause of expansion, modes of crustal extension, and rotation and asymmetry of the earth, including dynamic asymmetry, precessions, nutations, librations, and wobbles at fixed obliquity, variation of rate of rotation, and categories of submarine ridges.

The text is a dependable source of data for researchers wanting to study the concept of expanding earth.

Contenu

The Expanding Earth
Part I Introductory Review
Face of the Earth
Suess
Wegener
The Orocline Concept
Decades in Contempt
The Primary Rift System
A Shotgun Wedding
Kuhnian Revolution
A New Round of Red-Herrings
Development of Expanding Earth Concept
Necessity for Expansion
Gaping Gores
Hierarchy of Extension
Dispersion of Polygons
The Pacific Paradox
The Arctic Paradox
The Young Oceans
The Subduction Myth
Two False Axioms
Trenches are not Where they Should be
Which Side Moves?
Trench Sediments are not Deformed as they Should be
Trench Sediments do not Go Into Orogens
No Moho Bend Oceanward from Trench
Continents are Welded to their Own Mantle
Universal Tension
All Motion is Up Behind the Trench
Kinematic Contrast
Orogenic and Metamorphic Energies do not Fit
Blue Schists and Paired Metamorphic Belts
Seismic Misinterpretation
Seismic Attenuation
Higher Velocity Under Benioff Zone
Definitions
Oroclines
Coupled Oroclines
Rhombochasm
Sphenochasm
Sphenopiezm
Orotath
Oroclinotath
Nematath
Megashear
Restrictions
Philosophy of Orocline Concept
Part II Some Principles
Scale of Tectonic Phenomena
Length-Time Fields of Deformation
Geological Examples of Scale Fields
Experimental Tectonics
Other Planets
Non-Uniformitarianism
Kinds of Change
Non-Uniform Parameters
Non-Uniform Expression
Non-Uniformitarianism - Retrospect
Tectonic Profile
Local Hydrostatic Stress
Crustal Extension
Pure Shear
Simple Shear with Vertical Axis
Fluid Pressures
Failure at the Free Surface
Simple Shear with Horizontal Axis
Explosions
Implosions
Departure From Isostatic Equilibrium
Global Hydrostatic State
General Summary of the Tectonic Profile
Palaeomagnetism
Review
Abortive Attempts to Measure Palaeoradius
Global Palaeomagnetism Require Expansion
Palaeomagnetism Confirms Orocline Tectonics
Asymmetry of the Earth
Asymmetry of Figure
Geophysical Asymmetry
Dynamic Asymmetry
Summary of Asymmetries
Asymmetry is Normal
Control and Constraints of Asymmetry
Rotation of the Earth
Nomenclature
Precessions, Nutations, Librations and Wobbles, at Fixed Obliquity
Variation of Obliquity
Variation of Rate of Rotation
Variation of Period of Revolution
Modes of Crustal Extension
Cambium Ridges
Whaleback Tumours
Deckenschrund Ridges
Dyke Swarms
Categories of Submarine Ridges
Part III Regional
Western North America
Tectonic Setting
The San Andreas System
Mendocino and Idaho Oroclines
Basin-and-Range
Cascadan Province
The Rocky Mountain Trench
Pre-Tertiary Patterns
Dextral Shift of Coastal Fringe
Canadian Border Transverse Zone
Central America
Tectonic Control
Constraints on Reconstruction
Regional Tectonics
South-East Asia
The Ninetyeast Ridge
Asia-Australia Reconstruction
Tectonic Zones of South-East Asia
India and Malay Peninsula
Australia and India
The WA-TIM-EC Rift
Wallace's Line
India-Gondwana Paradox
The Rift Oceans
Part IV Retrospect
Tests
Cause of Expansion
Philosophy
What Causes the Earth to Expand
Phase Change at Constant Mass
Secular Decrease in G
Secular Increase in Mass
Secular Change of E/M
Universal Null
Part V
Acknowledgement
References
Index