INTRODUCTION/MAIN Introduction/Main BACKGROUND Seafarer's Challenge Why This Interest Continental Drift Oppositions to Drift Craftsman's Approach EMPIRICAL MODEL The Empirical Model Expansion Basics Model Construction Expansion Basics Model Construction Model Demonstration Riverbed Formation Video Demonstration CONCLUSIONS Conclusions Summary of Evidence The Mid-Oceans Crests Making Mountains & The Pacific Ocean Moon Expulsion Earthquakes An Impact Vision EXPANSION CARTOGRAPHY Expansion Cartography The Big Picture Waterworld Inland Evidence EXPAND HOW? Expand How? Owen's Plasma Core Continental Shelves EPILOGUE Epilogue BOOK INFO Book Info / Feedback Continental Drift Theory The currently accepted, but still debated, theory that the continents have drifted across the Earth's surface to their current locations. According to this concept, the continents were originally part of a single landmass, or supercontinent, called Pangaea. Plate Tectonics A theory that provides an explanation for Continental Drift, suggesting that the Earth's crust is comprised of segments, or plates, which shift very slowly (inches per year). The continents are said to move with them. Magma currents are said to propel the tectonic plates by convection. The movement of these plates against one another is assumed to be the cause of earthquakes. Moon Expulsion The basis for a theory concerning the Earth's geological history, based on the idea that the mass of matter that is now the Moon was originally part of the Earth. A catastrophic event is said to have expelled the Moon from the planet. Associated with Catastrophe Theory or Impact Theory.

THE BIG PICTURE Looking at the Earth as a whole allows a general overview of expansion. As with any inflated sphere, the greatest expansion is experienced at the centre. Notice that the features near the equator show the greatest amount of stretch. Here, latitudinally, the continents are furthest apart, with the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans spanning huge distances. Longitudinally, there is tremendous pull between North and South America, through Central America and the Caribbean. A similar effect is evident between Europe and Africa and between Asia and Australia, through the Indonesian Islands. These give the ultimate picture of a ripped-apart crust. Conversely, Antarctica and the Arctic are relatively intact, being located at the points of least expansion. Many points on their perimeters, however, appear to be elongated. Such features can not be favourably explained by continental drift and plate tectonics. Get the picture… on the Map of the World … on the model PERIMETER PUZZLES The correlation of many continental perimeters is apparent even with a fleeting glimpse. For example, the Atlantic Coast of South America corresponds to the Atlantic Coast of Africa. With closer observation, other similarities are apparent. Saudi Arabia may be seen as originally sandwiched tightly between Africa and Iran. Notice how New Guinea fits Australia. In fact, islands all over the world match nearby mainland indents. Map of the World THE RING OF FIRE & THE PACIFIC OCEAN On the continents surrounding the Pacific Ocean, notice the pattern of the Ring of Fire mountain ranges. One continent's range appears to "pick up" where another's left off, forming a dotted circle around the Pacific Ocean. It appears that, if these mountains were brought closer together, they would form a continuous circular range. In fact, when the live model is deflated, these mountains do form a single range circling the Pacific Basin. This formation, clearly indicative of the origin of the Ring of Fire, would have been valuable evidence for the early promoters of expansion. Within the Ring of Fire, the Pacific Basin indeed appears to be a massive crater, where part of the Earth's crust is missing. To fully recognise the Pacific Basin as a hole in the Earth's crust, compare its original appearance on the deflated model, shown here, with its current view on a Map of the Circum-Pacific Region. Combined, the Ring of Fire and the Pacific Basin offer convincing evidence of Moon expulsion, and, thus, possible impetus for the Earth's expansion. It can be logically deduced that the Basin and the Ring of Fire mountains developed simultaneously; the event that created the Basin violently thrust the surrounding land sideways, forming the high mountains. The existence of one formation only endorses the other. Top | Main | Waterworld