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 Ring of Fire The Earth's large mountain ranges, found on the continents surrounding the Pacific Ocean (Japan included), emitting most of the planet's earthquake activity. Mid-Ocean Crests The mid-ocean crest system is a series of underwater mountains ranges 40,000 miles long. On a good relief globe it looks like a network of ridges running through the centre of the planet's oceans. The exception is the Pacific Ocean, which has no central crest.

MODEL DEMONSTRATION During deflation and inflation of the model, the placement of its features is never adjusted. The demonstration is performed entirely without manual manipulation. This is the crux of the subject. The experiment begins with the model in the standard 12-inch size from which the continental positioning was transferred. The model is first deflated. DEFLATION As deflation occurs, the model's 12-inch diameter is gradually reduced. Several events take place. 1. As the model is deflated the distance between the continents decreases; the oceans appear to shrink. The continents, not moving themselves but fixed on the contracting surface, simultaneously come closer together. Deflation continues until the diameter of the globe is approximately 7 inches. (It may be deflated to slightly less than that but for simplicity 7 inches is the measurement used here.) At this size, the continents join together in a spherical jig-saw puzzle. Their perimeters match together on all sides to form a continuous planet surface. The coastal dents of one continent fit another's indents, creating an equally solidified crust enveloping the globe. Get the picture! Two fundamental exceptions exist. 2. One large hole remains in the crust. During deflation, the continents circumventing the Pacific Basin contract until, at the 7-inch diameter, they form a continuous circle around it. The Pacific Basin appears as a land-less void -- a giant crater. A second, smaller hole is formed as a vacuum below India. 3. As the continents come closer together, the large mountain ranges upon them, the parts of the Ring of Fire, begin to form a tighter circular range. At the 7-inch diameter the Ring of Fire is unified, appearing on the globe as a continuous mountain range encircling the Pacific Basin. These formations occur as natural results of globe deflation. All are achieved without manual manipulation of the model. With the model at the 7-inch diameter the elastic ridges, made earlier, are added. These are connected along the seams created where the continental perimeters join together. The model is then inflated. INFLATION During inflation, the model's diameter is increased to the original 12-inch size. Several events occur. 1. As the surface expands, the distance between the continents increases; the oceans appear to grow. The continents simultaneously separate as a result of being fixed on an expanding surface. Lateral movement is not possible because the continents are connected to the globe at their neutral tangent points. When the original 12-inch diameter is re-established the continents resume their original positions on the model, the correlated positions of present day. 2. As the continents separate, their large mountain ranges which form the Ring of Fire move with them to positions which correspond to those of present day. Divided by expansion, the ranges appear as a large, dotted circle on the globe. 3. The elastic ridges marking the seams created where the continental perimeters joined in deflation, appear as the mid-ocean crest system as the globe expands. Like the continents, the ridges themselves do not move laterally. They are simply transported on an expanding surface. Thus, the ridges stretch longitudinally but remain systematically centred between the continents. At the final 12-inch diameter, the model's crest system is positioned as it is on a current relief globe -- centred along the ocean floors, elongated impressions of the perimeters that were pulled away from them. or review above Again, these events occur as natural results of expansion. At no time was the model manipulated.  See the model in action with the video demonstration! Top | Main | Conclusions