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the Earth without the necessity of invoking esoteric theoretical processes. More importantly, all this occurs within the confines of known physics. stepwise back in time, providing conclusive evidence for the Earth without the necessity of invoking esoteric Expansion Tectonics. theoretical processes. More importantly, all this occurs A detailed technical discussion of the geological and within the confines of known physics. other evidence supporting this expansion process, termed by Maxlow as Expansion Tectonics, is beyond The Global Electric Circuit the scope of this article but is covered extensively Our Earth is very active, both from an electric and a elsewhere (Carey, 1996; Maxlow, 2005; Scalera & Jacob, magnetic standpoint. In a similar manner as to how a 2003). current flowing through a coil of wire produces a Carey considered and subsequently rejected anumber magnetic field, the Earth's magnetic field is inferred to of possible causes of expansion such as (1) a pulsating be generated by currents of electricity within the Earth. Earth, (2) meteoric and asteroidal accretion, (3) a Additionally, there is a large amount of electrical activity constant Earth matter with phase changes of an below, on and above the surface of our planet. originally superdense core, (4) continual reduction of The ionosphere ranges from 50 to more than 400 the universal gravitational constant, and (5) a ilometres above the Earth's surface. It is characterised cosmological cause involving a continual increase in by a mixture of free electrons and ions of various matter. The problem with each of these possible causes elements including hydrogen (whose ion is a single is that none seemed to account for the proposed proton), thus creating a plasma current due to the magnitude of expansion. Furthermore, most of these Earth's magnetic field. From an electric point of view, possible causes involve only theoretical speculation. here exists a voltage potential which ranges from gaining att a 3 " he ‘ evels mone between the io ae ere cridence Suggests) there must | Clearly, if the Earth has ff itarison e Muir 1980). The underlying this matterineeave | Been gaining matter at insulator making it ficult for Such a mechanism is suggested the levels required...there electric curren to travel to and Montanari | mustbesome other J forts ch ne cnptrcsliy determined | ‘Mechanism underlying J oes emensiely studied by characteristics of matter. this matter increase. others. In effect, we live between the plates of a huge capacitor where one plate is the ionosphere and the other the A Proposed New Mechanism Dr Hannes Alfvén, Nobe laureate and recognised plasma physics expert who is surface of the Earth. considered the father of the field, has said that our In thunderstorms, clouds build up large static charges universe is one where over 99 per cent of the matter ina similar way to how you might build up a charge on present is in the form of plasma. Plasma currents — your body in cold weather by walking across a rug; when consist of charged particles, both electrons and — you reach for a door knob or other metallic device, a negatively or positively charged ions, which move in _ spark is generated between your hand and the device. unison (although in opposite directions) under the ature does the same thing, in essence, only it is called influence of electric and magnetic fields. Subsequent “lightning” and is vastly more intense. The potential exploration of space by artificial satellites and space — between a cloud and the ground may extend upwards to probes has verified that such currents do exist. Even several million volts, and the current that is discharged though these charged particles are widely separated, as averages about a trillion watts (Christian & McCook). is the case in the relative void of space, the sheer t's not surprising that this amount of power is number of particles is so large that currents in the — generated, considering that a lightning strike has such a billions of amps or more are created by their motion igh voltage together with estimated currents of up to (Lerner, 1992). This subject matter has been analysedin 50,000 amperes. This means that there is a huge detail in many technical books and papers (e.g., Alfvén, | number of negatively charged electrons travelling 1986; Peratt, 1990, 1995). For our purposes, what is between a cloud and the Earth's surface, conducted via important here is that vast numbers of charged particles —_ an ionised path consisting of plasma. do indeed exist in space. With the advent of artificial satellites capable of What is suggested here is that the constant recording lightning discharges with a high degree of bombardment of the Earth by charged particles, accuracy, it has been estimated that about 45 to 50 primarily from our Sun, provides a source for the matter ightning flashes occur every second worldwide from necessary to account for the increase in matter within more than 1,500 to 2,000 thunderstorms in progress Clearly, if the Earth has been gaining matter at the levels required...there surface of the Earth. In thunderstorms, clouds build up large static charges in a similar way to how you might build up a charge on your body in cold weather by walking across a rug; when you reach for a door knob or other metallic device, a spark is generated between your hand and the device. ature does the same thing, in essence, only it is called “lightning” and is vastly more intense. The potential between a cloud and the ground may extend upwards to several million volts, and the current that is discharged averages about a trillion watts (Christian & McCook). t's not surprising that this amount of power is generated, considering that a lightning strike has such a igh voltage together with estimated currents of up to 50,000 amperes. This means that there is a huge number of negatively charged electrons travelling between a cloud and the Earth's surface, conducted via an ionised path consisting of plasma. With the advent of artificial satellites capable of recording lightning discharges with a high degree of accuracy, it has been estimated that about 45 to 50 lightning flashes occur every second worldwide from more than 1,500 to 2,000 thunderstorms in progress 44 «NEXUS APRIL - MAY 2011 must be some other mechanism underlying this matter increase. www.nexusmagazine.com