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1952
New Light on the Atlantis Problem, by A. W. Tulip
(Last chapter of my booklet "The Evolution of
Matter"-Dealt with geological implications of the theory, which basically
showed that the same forces that produced stars, with their radiant energy, and
the planets of the Solar System would be responsible for the heat generated
within the earth and such contraction of its substance as to lead to the
forming of the continents, ocean beds and mountain ranges.) The more detailed
aspect of this effect on the earth's crust would be more interesting to the
readers of "Atlantis".
Earth- Oblate shere of such
proportions as would be assumed by an equal mass of liquid rotating at the same
rate. Mathematically proved but self-evident from the fact
that four fifths of the surface is covered by liquid, distributed over polar
and equatorial regions alike, the surface of which must conform to the
counter-acting gravitational and centrifugal forces. As there is no very
marked difference in average depths at varying latitudes it follows that the
solid crust of the Earth also conforms to the same shape. If, however, a sudden
change were to occur in the rate of the rotation of the planet the distribution
of the water would alter: thus showing of the rotation would induce the
appearance of a belt of dry land at the equator, while a speeding would
increase the depth in that region, leaving land at the poles.
When the Earth solidified it must have assumed proportions
relative to its rotational speed and, when sufficiently cooled to permit
condensation, have been evenly covered by a layer of water.
Geological evidence- particularly that of the radio-active
elements in the crustal rock, indicate a period of about 2,000 million years
since that occurred, and it is quite obvious that the frictional effect of the
tides during such a period must have a considerably slowed the rate of
rotation, so that the original form of the Earth must have been more oblate
than at present time. Calculations have actually been made, based on the
present influence of the Sun and Moon, which suggests that the rotational speed
has been approximately halved since the Earth solidified. As centrifugal force
is directly proportional to the square of the speed this would indicate that it
was originally four times as effective as at present and, since its present
effect is such as to produce an equatorial diameter 26.7 miles greater than the
distance between the poles, that the difference at the time the Earth
solidified was about 107 miles. Thus, while the interior substance of the Earth
has contracted throughout, producing irregularities in the crust, the
contraction has been most pronounced in the plane of the equator, so that
equatorial diameter has decreased more than that between the poles; by as much
as 80 miles if the tidal calculations are correct. There is thus proof that the
contraction of the interior substance of the earth is produced by and is
proportional to the gravitational pressure, and is so sensitive to it that it
has exactly kept pace with the decreasing rotational speed, for otherwise the
water would have flowed North & South, leaving a belt of dry land at the
equator.
The excessive contraction of the equatorial diameter has
markedly affected the surface, for to conform with it has necessitated the
crust developing a series of corrugations running at right angles to the
equator; hence the majority of the great mountain ranges, both on land and
beneath the sea, run about North & South; which fact also disposes of the
suggestion sometimes advanced, that the poles at some time may have occupied
different positions on the Earth's surface.
As contraction of the inner substance has been shown to be
relative to the gravitational pressure, depressions once formed would continue
to deepen because of the additional weight of water which world flow into them;
thus the ocean beds continually sink, carrying the water level with them, and
producing, by contrast, the phenomenon often referred to as "Continental
Uplift".
(Time does not permit the re-introducing of the theory
advanced in "The Evolution of Matter" of how pressure induces atomic
transmutation consequent contraction and generation of heat with in the Earth;) So I must content myself by observing that the
bending strain on the underside of the crust midway between two subsidence
would involve such pressure as to induce limited atomic transmutation within
the igneous crustal rock, soften it sufficiently to permit bending and
elevation of the crust as a mountain range and, at points of extreme pressure,
actual melting of the rock and eruptions. This theory also advanced reasons for
supposing that the original water would carry in solution a large amount of
Calcium bi-carbonate, and explained how crustal bending beneath the sea would
precipitate from this the limestone deposits, offering this as an explanation
of the findings which so supprised the American
Expedition of 1947- and 1948: that while the broad low lying plains of the
Atlantic are covered by sedimentary deposits less than 100 ft. in thickness,
the foothills of the ridge consist of broad terraces of sedimentary rock
averaging several thousand feet in depth; as much as 6,000 feet having been
measured in places!
For the Atlantis students and to the surprise of the
members of the expedition; that samples from some of these foothills contained
sand of such a nature as to prove that they had once been beaches and,
therefore, that either the surface of the sea has risen or the ridge has fallen
several thousand feet. I suggest that the latter would have occur
as a consequence of the weight of this great depth of sedimentary rock, since
limestone is about three times as heavy as water. The effect of the growing
weight of this deposit would be to retard and finally halt the uplift of the
crust, at which point the generation of heat and resulting volcanic activity
and precipitation would cease. Thereafter while the whole ocean bed would
continue to sink, carrying water level with it, the line of greatest pressure
would lie beneath the ridge, causing increasing contraction and a gradual
lowering of this mountain range. The effect would be considerably accentuated
by the unfolding of the ridge which must ensue, and as this would entail
fracture of the rock along the crest of the ridge the general gradual
subsidence would be punctuated by local sudden collapses; which explains why
the ridge is today the center of seismic disturbances in the Atlantic.
Thus there is evidence that the innumerable volcanic peaks along
the Atlantic Ridge at some period formed a chain of islands which subsided as a
result of the weight of sedimentary rock deposited on the flanks of the ridge.
In any particular island the process would begin very gradually, but as the
crustal rock commenced to crack a series of minor earthquakes would occur, each
accompanied by a small subsidence. Finally the crust at the apex would fracture
throughout and the islands disappear beneath the sea. If such an island were
inhabited by a civilized race their history would record periodic earthquakes
and accompanying subsidence and, probably, the total disappearance of other
islands; and so, a has often been suggested by Atlantis students, induce them
to attempt to colonize nearby islands.
The
Valley of Bones, by Ernest J. Sawyer
