The Earth's face determined by the core

Abstract

The author refers to the old theory of a periodic change in expansion and contraction of the Earth, caused by thermal conditions, especially by periodic accumulation and escape of radioactive heat. To this theory is joined: (1) the hypothesis of rotational differences of core and mantle, the core not being warmed and cooled in the same way as the mantle; (2) the hypothesis of a uniform crystalline (if solid) or semi‐crystalline (if nearly fluid) parallel structure of the core, which effects deformations of its spheroid boundary during tangential movements of the mantle. These deformations, in regionally accelerating or retarding the mantle's movement, also produce movements within the crust.By means of this theory of the Earth's mechanism an explanation is attempted for a geological assemblage of facts, such as (1) the origin of the Mediterranean or Alpide ring of structures, which in general is supposed to have been equatorial in the Tertiary; (2) dislocations of the Earth's axis during Tertiary and other active phases of the Earth's history; and (3) the origin of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and of the crustal massif of central Asia.In the second part of this paper, entitled An Actual Phase?, there is an attempt to demonstrate that seismic observations of actual movements in the crust probably in the future will confirm or deny the probability of this theory.