To: WSFAlist at keithlynch.net Cc: WSFAlist at keithlynch.net Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2002 00:38:43 -0500 Subject: [WSFA] Re: the earth tips over From: ronkean at juno.com Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net> On Sat, 23 Mar 2002 14:29:49 -0500 (EST) "Keith F. Lynch" <kfl at keithlynch.net> writes: > ronkean at juno.com wrote: > > But... even if the ice caps did become heavier than the > equatorial bulge (which could happen if the bulge were very much lighter > than it is) - even then that would be no reason to believe the earth > > would tip over, would it? > > Actually, it would. The poles would still point the same direction > in space, and the axial tilt would remain unchanged, as would the > length of the year, etc, but the poles would rapidly move from their > present geographic location to somewhere on or near the current equator. > I see. The heavy ice caps would tend to be 'spun out' towards the equator, prusumably tending to drag the crust along with them, as the crust floats on the mantle. Sounds pretty cataclysmic. . ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.