Moon Is Dragging Continents West, Scientist Says

[emad]

Richard A. Lovett
for National Geographic News

January 24, 2006


Someday not so soon Washington, D.C., may find itself about where San Francisco is now. According to a recent study, Earth's surface may be slipping slowly westward, dragged by the same lunar forces that produce tides.

The Earth's crust is divided into vast plates that slowly shift, producing earthquakes, mountains, and rifts where they collide or separate. Most earth scientists believe that this movement is the result of rising and falling currents of magma deep below the surface.

In addition to being jostled every which way from below, the planet's plates are sedately sliding toward the sunset, says Carlo Doglioni of the earth science department at Rome's La Sapienza university.

In a study published in the January-February issue of the Geological Society of America's journal Bulletin, Doglioni and a team of Italian and U.S. scientists argue that the westward motion is due to the tidal attraction of the moon.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/01/0124_060124_moon.html

[havocmom]

1. Now we know what it takes to move America a bit to the left

:evilgrin:

Article helped me understand more about the formation of my beloved Rockies and the Andes. Very interesting indeed. Thanks for the link. Know some kids who will enjoy this.

[Village Idiot]

2. Great - I'm already sick of this cold winter weather.

[On the Road]

3. If Everything is Moving West

wouldn't everything stay in the same place relative to each other? Just asking.

:smoke:

[Dead_Parrot]

4. lol. Good question... nt