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¢ Ancient magnetic poles plus equators have been accurately located on all models constructed. Both poles plot as diametrically opposed north and south poles, enabling the ancient equators and climate zones to be established precisely. ¢ Geological, geographical and geophysical data have been investigated on all models. These data are shown to coincide precisely with expected polar and equatorial climatic and biotic constraints. ¢ Models have been animated in four dimensions, showing the increase in Earth radius throughout time along with global distribution of selected data sets. useful starting point in understanding the progression of our knowledge about the Earth through history. This concept stems from the limited knowledge of the size and configuration of the Earth in ancient times and, of course, from the limited number of "scientists" or philosophers capable of gathering enough information to make meaningful sense of the knowledge available. The suggestion that continents have not always been at their present positions was introduced as early as 1596 by the Flemish map-maker Abraham Ortelius. He suggested that, based on the symmetrical outlines of the Atlantic coastlines, the Americas, Eurasia and Africa were once joined and have since drifted apart "by earthquakes and floods", creating the modern Atlantic Ocean. As evidence, he wrote: "The vestiges of the rupture reveal themselves, if someone brings forward a map of the world and considers carefully the coasts of the three continents.” pt te te Ste eee pee GEOLOGY AND THE ROCK RECORD earthquakes and floods", creating the modern Atlantic Geology (from the Greek gé, "Earth", and logos, "speech") Ocean. As evidence, he wrote: "The vestiges of the literally means to talk about the Earth, and it is definedas —_ rupture reveal themselves, if someone brings forward a the science and study of the solid matter that constitutes | map of the world and considers carefully the coasts o' the Earth. To me, this definition must go a step further the three continents." and acknowledge that the rocks By 1915, Alfred Wegener was making up the Earth are in fact a presenting serious arguments reorlthe psi poses | This mathematical fo" he sca of “continent affecting the Ea roughout its . entire history. It is like an open modelling demonstrates book The Origin of Continents and Oceans. He noted how the eas coast of South America and the book waiting to be read. To | that Earth's radius has been understand and talk about the "rock record" preserved in rocks, increasing exponentially west coast of Africa look as i you therefore need to , they were once attached. While understand the language of . throughout time, Wegener wasn't the first to note geology. Increasing to a current rate this, he was the first to gather significant fossil and geologica as the first modern geologist. evidence to support this simple In 1785, he presented a paper to observation. His ideas, the Royal Society of Edinburgh however, were not taken which was published in 1788 as "Theory of the Earth". In seriously by most geologists of that period, who pointed this paper he suggested that the Earth must be much out that there was no apparent mechanism for older than previously supposed in order to allow "continental drift", as it was then called. Specifically, enough time for mountains to be eroded and for _ they did not see how continental rock could possibly sediments to form new rocks at the bottom of the sea, plough through the much denser rock that makes up which in turn were raised up to become dry land. In — oceanic crust. James Hutton is often viewed of 22 millimetres per year. 1795, Hutton published a two-volume version of his It is interesting to note that for his presentation "The ideas. Tectonic Approach to Continental Drift" at a 1958 Since then, our knowledge of geology has extended —_ University of Tasmania symposium, Professor Sam Carey worldwide, with a vast amount of global geological, | made scale models of the Earth. He demonstrated tha geographical and geophysical data stored and "if all the continents were reassembled into a Pangaean published for all to use and interpret. The primary configuration on a model representing the Earth's concern during my early research into Expansion modern dimensions, the fit was reasonably precise a Tectonics was that this modern data had never been _ the centre of the reassembly and along the common tested on models of an expanding Earth. Our margins of Northwest Africa and the United States eas perception of global tectonics principles was, and still | coast embayment, but became progressively imperfec is, severely biased towards Plate Tectonics at the away from these areas". Carey concluded from this expense of alternative theories. research that the fit of these ancient continents "could be made much more precise in these areas if the HISTORICAL WAYS OF VIEWING THE EARTH diameter of the Earth was smaller at the time o Many theories have come and gone throughout past Pangaea". With the acceptance of Plate Tectonics, millennia, in particular after the science of geology was = Carey's basic physical observations and conclusions formally recognised. The Flat Earth theory, popular in have been totally ignored. ancient times, is now largely historical but serves as a During this same time, there were a number o modelling demonstrates that Earth's radius has been increasing exponentially throughout time, increasing to a current rate of 22 millimetres per year. His HISTORICAL WAYS OF VIEWING THE EARTH Many theories have come and gone throughout past millennia, in particular after the science of geology was formally recognised. The Flat Earth theory, popular in ancient times, is now largely historical but serves as a 34 * NEXUS APRIL - MAY 2010 This mathematical www.nexusmagazine.com