Abstract
A GLOBAL, quadrupolar mechanical analysis of the energy stored in the Earth, based on the concept of a ‘reference elastic distortion’1,2, has shown that quadrupolar continental drift, and in particular the westerly polar motion could be understood as resulting from a yielding process which operates as a consequence of the elastic energy in the Earth.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Pines, D., and Shaham, J., Phys. Earth planet. Intarions, 6, 103 (1972).
Pines, D., and Shaham, J., Nature phys. Sci., 243, 122 (1973).
Runcorn, S. K., Continental drift, 145–194 (Academic Press, New York, 1962).
Prey, A., Abhandlunger der Koniglicher Gesellschaft der Wissenchaften zn Göttingen, Mathematisch—Physikalishche Klasse, neue Folge 11, 1 (1922).
Lederstege, K., Handbuch der Vermessungskunde, Band V (J. B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH in Stuttgart), 848–856 (1956/1969).
Balmino, G., Lambeck, K., and Kaula, W. M., J. geophys. Res., 78, 478 (1973).
Love, A. E. H., A treatise on the mathematical theory of elasticity, fourth ed. (Dover Publications, New York, 1944).
Munk, W. H., and MacDonald, G. J. F., The Rotation of the Earth, 15–37 (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1960).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
AU, CK., SHAHAM, J. Elastic energy and plate tectonics. Nature 250, 211–213 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/250211a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/250211a0
- Springer Nature Limited