Pavel Yu. Chernosvitov Institute of Archaeology USSR Academy of Siences Moscow

Wyprawy Geograficzne na Spitsbergen UMCS, Lublin 1991

MODE OF THE EARTH'S ROTATION, GLOBAL TECTONICS, GLOBAL CLIMATE, GENERAL HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY

Like any other planet we may deem the Earth to be an axially symmetric, freely rotating body possessing certain elasticity. According to the laws of mechanics such bodies have a constant angular moment, that is its torque presents a constant value. The law is expressed by a well-known formula:

M = Ico (M = const)

where M is the angular momentum (the torque), I — the moment of inertia and со — the angular velocity.

For a sphere rotating about its central axis

I = 2/5 mR2

m being the sphere's mass and R — ist radius. Since Ico = const it is evident that I = const/co, hence if the Earth's moment of

inertia experiences even a single modification during its geological history due to internal heating or cooling accompanied by changes of its volume it inevitably results in changes of angular velocity of the Earth's axial rotation ю inversely proportional to the quantity of its moment of inertia variation. If the planet is an elastic body then even a single modification of its moment of inertia (and the relevant modification of angular velocity) will result in self-oscillatory process of antiphase I and values. Such oscillations will inevitably attenuate due to dissipation of the planet's rotation energy for inelastic deformations within its body. Unfortunately we cannot obtain quantitative» estimation either of the oscillation amplitude or of the attenuation rate thouhg their presence in itself is, in our opinion, indubitable in virtue of the mechanic laws. However, if we consider such oscillations significant we may suggest a number of conclusions being important for understanding of some global processes.

1. Global tectonics. „Plate tectonics" (mobilism) obtains new explanation: the spreading process seems to be inevitable in the oscillation phase when the shape of the Earth is the closest to that of an ellipsoid (i.e. when I —> max and co -» min)

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and the subduction process becomes as inevitable in the oscillation antiphase (when I -> min and ю -> max). Accordingly, there are the processes of orogenesis and rift genesis in the antiphases, both proceeding in opposite phases in low and high latitudes of the planet.

2. Global climate. The problem of global glaciation should be regerded from different positions. In the phase of oscillation when I -> max and co -» min some surface and Alpine glaciation may be expected since the period is characterized by facilitated meridional transfer of moisture carrying strams from low to high letitudes, maximum evaporation surface of the oceans, minimum thickness of the atomsphere, its minimum dampening impact upon daily and yearly temperature differences. In fact, in the phase when I —> min and со —> max we may expect degradation of surface and mountain glaciers.

3. Global historical chronology. The problem of chronology is one of the most important and complicated in human history. At present we have no simple and generally accepted solution though it is believed to be known in general outline. However in the 1920's-1930's traditional chronology was strongly criticized by the prominent Russian scientist N. A. Morozov and nowadays — by the well-known Soviet mathematician A.T. Fomenko. Their arguments, methods and practical analysis results differ significantly but one of the most well--grounded arguments against modern historical chronology is an astronomic one: both scientists believe that solar and lunar eclipses described in some chronicles could not have taken place in the historical periods to which tradition relates the chronicles. N.A. Morozov and A.T. Fomenko base themselves upon the so called „canonical eclipse tables" known by every modern astronomer. However it should be taken into account that the „canonical tables" are based on presently known parameters of axial and orbital movements of the Earth, the Moon and other solar system planets. The Earth's precession velocity, in particular, is believed to have a value close to a constant. But if we take into consideration our reasons it becomes evident that precession velocity of terrestrial axis depending directly on the degree of its ellipsoidity and its rotation angular velocity cannot be constant. So in the phase when I -> max and co -> min precession velocity must be maximum and in the phase when I -+ min and со -> max it must be minimum. And if we think that the last glaciation (the Wurm one) took place within human memory in the phase of I max and to -> min then variations of terrestrial axis precession velocity were significant during the historical period proper. So the „canonical tables" of eclipses and horoscopes are valid only for a very short period of human history, perhaps for the last two millenia or even less. This makes us consider critically the review of historical chronology suggested by N.A. Morozov and A.T. Fomenko.

We believe that all the above may be transformed into a rigorous quantitative model by means of modern computer simulation methods of global geotectonics and astronomic processes.

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