Open AccessCriticism of Hypotheses of Convection and Continental Drift
Author(s) -
Lyustikh E. N.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1967.tb06250.x
Subject(s) - convection , continental drift , geophysics , mantle convection , spherical harmonics , geology , computation , mechanics , physics , mathematics , mathematical analysis , seismology , algorithm , tectonics , subduction
Summary The computations of mantle convection involve assumptions too far from reality and are misleading therefore. Besides, such computations must involve spherical harmonics of several different orders, not of a single one. The order of spherical harmonic does not determine exactly the number of convection cells. Mathematical analysis of the Earth's relief cannot provide definite information about the past and present convection. If the Earth has an iron core which grows, any convection is impossible. Most of the evidence in favour of continental drift is invalid. The mid‐ocean ridges are not axes of rising convection currents. Both the convection hypothesis and the drift hypothesis are doubtful and need a more reliable basis.