Indications from space geodesy, gravimetry and seismology for slow Earth expansion at present – comment on “The Earth expansion theory and its transition from scientific hypothesis to pseudoscientific belief” by Sudiro (2014)

Matthew R Edwards

doi:10.5194/hgss-7-125-2016

Abstract

Abstract. In a recent article in this journal, Paolo Sudiro (2014) considered the long history of the expanding Earth theory and its recent descent into what he termed “pseudoscientific belief”. The expanding Earth theory contends that the radius of the Earth was once one-half to two-thirds of its current value, with the Earth's continents forming a continuous sialic cover over the Earth. The theory has had two main variants: slow expansion at about 0.5 mm yr−1 radial increase since the time of Earth's formation and fast expansion at about 5 mm yr−1 since the Triassic. Focusing on Maxlow's model, Sudiro thoroughly addresses the possibly insurmountable difficulties of the fast version, such as an improbably high density and surface gravity prior to 200 Ma. He omits, however, any discussion of the slow expansion model, which has a longer history and far fewer theoretical difficulties. Moreover, recent evidence from space geodesy, gravimetry and seismology indicates that the Earth at present may be slowly expanding at 0.1–0.4 mm yr−1. It is concluded that Sudiro's obituary of the expanding Earth theory as a whole must be considered premature at this time.

Highlights

In this journal, Paolo Sudiro (2014) recently made an extremely critical assessment of a theory that had already gained considerable notoriety: the expanding Earth theory
Taking the factors mentioned above into consideration, Shen et al used space geodetic data collected from 629 very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI), Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite laser ranging (SLR) and Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS) stations to estimate the annual change in the Earth’s radius
In the foregoing, it has been our purpose to show that the slow variant of the expanding Earth theory, unlike most if not all the fast variants, is still within the realm of real science

Summary

Introduction

Paolo Sudiro (2014) recently made an extremely critical assessment of a theory that had already gained considerable notoriety: the expanding Earth theory. The focus has been on mechanisms involving a dramatic increase of mass, sometimes through condensation of gravitational quanta (e.g., Yarkovskii, 1889; Hilgenberg, 1933; Shneiderov, 1943, 1961; Blinov, 1983; Scalera, 2003; see Edwards, 2002; Betelev, 2009) These models tend to rely on separate hypotheses concerning gravity and inertia, for which insufficient evidence has been brought forward. While mentioning a few slow expansion theorists such as Creer (1965), omitted any actual discussion of the slow expansion model He characterized all modern expanding Earth proponents as engaging in a form of science fantasy. Our goal is not to prove that the Earth is expanding or how, but merely to demonstrate that a reasonable case for a slowly expanding Earth can still be made – and that Sudiro’s obituary and other such notices in geology and history of science journals are premature

Evidence for slow expansion from space geodetic and gravity field techniques

Earthquakes and mantle plumes in Earth expansion

Findings

Conclusions