Re: Earth's Axial Tilt (posted for M. Stern)

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Date: Sun, 17 Dec 1995 20:04:05 -0800
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To: paleonet-owner@nhm.ac.uk
From: mstern@baker.cnw.com (Michael Sternberg)
Subject: Re: Earth's Axial Tilt (posted for T. Hansen)
Status: O


>From: Thor A Hansen <thorenet@henson.cc.wwu.edu>
>To: paleonet-owner@nhm.ac.uk
>Cc: paleonet@nhm.ac.uk
>Subject:  Earth's Axial Tilt
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Status: O
>
>
>Does anybody know if the young Earth (about 4 billion years ago) is
>thought to have had a different degree of tilt than it does now?


I have pondered your question, not so much for an answer, but rather, what
evidences can there be to demonstrate paleo-tilt.  I can see how
paleo-geography can be inferred through paleomagnetism, paleocurrents, and
paleogeochemistry.  But none of those can shed light on the orientation of
the rotational axis of the earth.  Since tilt primarily affects seasonality
of climate, only an extensive and complete paleoclimatological record could
offer the evidences we would need. IMHO.

I vote this as one of the best questions of the year.

           Michael "We're not in Kansas anymore" Sternberg
                  I never Metasequoia I didn't like
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