doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3121.2005.00661.

Global tectonics under g having a minute westward tilt

Robert C. Bostrom
Earth and Space Sciences, Box 35-1310, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA

ABSTRACT
The convection seen to affect Moons mantle takes place under
gravity having a component of asymmetry, in the form of a
minute westward slope or tilt constituting the external part of
the field. Its effect is explored employing the equivalent
potential, denominated /0 SM
conv . Its nature is to bias convection
of internal origin, inducing eastwest polarization of a type
prominent in global tectonics. Separately, research at Harvard
has shown that by causing advection of non-hydrostatic masses
within the heterogeneous mantle, deep-seated convection
inevitably displaces the axis of maximum moment, compelling

Introduction
The eect is explored of a minute eastto-west tilt in terrestrial gravity, g,
responsible for the convection seen to
aect Moons mantle. The tilt is
covered by the persistent lag in the
M2 oceanic tidal bulge vis-a`-vis the
causative external eld.
In what follows, buoyancy convection under terrestrial gravity, g, rather
than being assumed to act purely in
the perpendicular, is compared with
what may be expected in the case of
there being present in addition the
minute asymmetry normally corrected out. To do so an interactive term
/0 SM
conv is added to expressions developed by Platzman (1984; eq. [10]) and
Egbert and Ray (2001; eq. [2]), specifying the energy balance between the
satellite-delimited total input and the
dissipation, hitherto having to be
attributed almost solely to shallowwater marine processes. Long-standing observation of an unexplained
phase lag in gravimetric M2 suggests
that the asymmetry in g is not without
eect.
Over geological time its nature is to
contribute to geotectonics an east
west asymmetry conspicuously similar
to that enunciated by such gures as
Doglioni (1990,1993), OConnell et al.
(1991), Ricard et al. (1991) and
Calcagno and Cazenave (1994).
Separately, research elsewhere (Steinberger and OConnell 1997, 2002) has

Professor Bostrom died on 12 July 2005,

shortly after submitting the revised version
of this manuscript.

2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

polar wander. A reconstruction based on observed dissipation

suggests that the combined effect of these factors is to
contribute a not inconsiderable low-latitude, surface-west
component to the structure of the convection. Cumulative
alteration in the direction west must eventually require global
rearrangement of its cell structure, offering explanation of the
abrupt MesozoicTertiary transition and progressive net lithosphere rotation.

Terra Nova, 18, 5562, 2006

shown that advection of non-isostatic

density anomalies under convection
renders almost inevitable a concomitant polar wander, because of displacement of the axis of principal
moment.
To obtain insight as to the joint
eect, a serial model covers the
period between 150 and 5 Ma, over
which the palaeomagnetic record

(Lithgow-Bertelloni and Richards

1995; Besse and Courtillot 2002;
Prevot et al. 2000; Richards et al.
2000) provides measure of displacement of the Moon relative to its
almost space-xed axis of rotation,
experienced as true polar wander
(TPW).
Operating interactively, the factor
(a) induction of eastwest polarization,

Fig. 1 Range up through year 1985 in estimates of the dissipation in the M2 (semidiurnal) marine tides, following researches by the authorities named. In constructing
the tidal energy balance Platzman (1984) enumerated the dissipation D in terms of
accepted values of the Love numbers, so that D @ P(k*)+Q(1 + k*). The P and Q
terms may be viewed as dissipation due, respectively, to the solid and uid tides. The
latter take into account an interactive term, the eect of the atmospheric on the
marine tide. (Reproduced by kind permission of Prof. Platzman.)
55

Global tectonics under g having a minute westward tilt R.C. Bostrom

Terra Nova, Vol 18, No. 1, 5562

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Table 1 Comparison, M2-related dissipation within Earth having non-convecting mantle (top half), vs. within mantle at yieldpoint under independently maintained convection (lower half of table)
Forcing potential

Frequency (day))1 (x)

Mechanism

Inert, passive (not maintained at yield point)

Eq. (2a)
/S
k2/
2
Body tide
/M
2
Marine tide
Devoid of permanent strength (at yield point under independently driven convection)
Eq. (3)
/S
k2/
2
Body tide
/M
2
Marine tide
/SM
0
Interaction
conv
(marine loading)

Factor Q

Dissipation (TW)

References

280
21.1

0.110
2.421

[1]
[13]

280
21.1
20
(< 20)

0.110
2.421
1.54*

[1]
[13]
[4]
[5]

*First estimate, based solely upon the comparative Q values: 280 employing customarily estimated Love number vs. the gravimetric value, somewhat more directly
observed but with extreme instrumental difficulty. Value noted is attributable mostly to the convection part of the term; an indeterminable fraction of the marine
dissipation, correctly seen as responsible for the major part of the lunar acceleration and increase in length of day, is attributable to modulated convection.
References: 1, Ray et al. (2001b); 2, Tierney et al. (2000); 3, Egbert and Ray (2003); 4, Melchior (1989, 1994); Melchior and Francis (1996); 5, Zschau (1978), Zschau
and Wang (1986).

together with (b) alteration in the

direction west under TPW, may have
been responsible for the global reorganization of convection marking
termination of the Mesozoic (Rona
and Richardson 1978), followed by

progressive development during Cenozoic time of the element of net westward

lithosphere rotation identied by
LePichon (1968), Gordon (1997), Bercovici (2003) and others.

Mantle convection
Under standard g
Treatments of mantle/lithosphere convection have, in general, assumed the

Box 1: EarthMoon interaction: magnitude and locus of the dissipation

Thermal convection, primarily random, is susceptible to conguration by innitesimal but spatially coherent stress
increments such as those eecting the symmetry-breaking bifurcations described by Crossat and Stewart (1992).
Platzman (1984) has examined the energy balance required to account for the Moons orbital acceleration in terms of
observed processes of dissipation. It has been recognized since the time of Jereys (1929) that marine losses constitute
overwhelmingly the greater part, as a result largely of shelf-sea aqueous dissipation. Identication and quantication of
the dissipation mechanism has been dicult, resulting in widely disparate estimates illustrated in Figure 1, reproduced
from Platzman with grateful acknowledgment.
Closely monitored satellite motion has permitted more precise estimation of the astronomic term. In developments
based on Platzman (1984), Fig. 1, Egbert and Ray (2001) have evaluated the secondary, induced part / of the primary
astronomic potential / in terms of
/0 k2 / 4p=5GRq1 k20

 P22 coshD
22 cosxt 2/1  w22

in which: k2 is body-tide Love number; k2, the degree 2 loading Love number; G the gravitation constant, R is mean
2
Earth radius, q density; D
22 is dissipation under the second-degree number tidal gure, and pertinent P2 Legendre
polynomial, h and / are spherical polar coordinates. This expression is hereafter abbreviated to
S

/0 /0 /0

2a

superscripts denoting respectively solid-earth and marine dissipation processes.

Ingenious combined use of altimetry and tidal perturbation of satellite orbits has enabled Ray et al. (2001b), to
constrain the value, 110 25 GW, of the bodily-dissipation term k2/ in (2) under M2. Their estimate accords with an
elastic quality factor, Q
280, not dissimilar to that found by MacDonald in 1964 on the basis of the Love numbers h
and k then perceived. The marine part of the dissipation is evaluated in terms of the second-degree ocean-tide amplitude
D22 and phase-lag w22. The uncertainty is delimited
P (Ray et al. 2001a) by altimetric measurements of f, sea-surface
height, entered as components in the system f nfn. Ray et al. note that a major unknown remains, in the form of
input due to marine tidal loading (see also Zschau and Wang 1986; their section 4). The latter, pursued further herewith,
points to a disparity between the phase lag, hence dissipation, based on prolonged gravimetric surface observations
(Melchior 1989; Melchior and Francis 1996), and sea-surface altimetry.
A variety of assumed hydraulic processes are found to t /. Egbert and Ray (2001,2003) point out that although
global dissipation Wtotal 2.435 0.017 TW under M2 is now determined with considerable precision, its nature and
composition remain unclear. Most orbital analyses have parameterized / essentially as arising from an elastic body
overlain by the dissipative marine tide.

56

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R.C. Bostrom Global tectonics under g having a minute westward tilt

.............................................................................................................................................................
existence of a vector eld g on globalaverage geocentric and acting in the
perpendicular, peculiar to a singleton,
albeit rotating, planet.
Reviewing convection in the mantle
of the Moon and neighbouring planets, Schubert et al. (2001, Eq. 7.6.2)
show that within Earths mantle the
vigour of the convection, determining
in many respects that of the geotectonics, may be represented by a Rayleigh number of the form:
Ral qgah4 =jls

Fig. 2 Composition of present-day plate motion in terms of observed toroidal

(dashed line) vs. poloidal (solid line) components: degree power spectrum of plate
velocities presented as velocity vs. spherical harmonic degree. Derived from platemotion model AM1-2 (Minster and Jordan 1978), based on hotspot reference frame.
OConnell et al. draw attention to the continuity of the toroidal spectrum as the
degree decreases to degree one; the latter represents a net lithosphere rotation.
(Reproduced from OConnell et al. 1991.)

where q is the density, g the geocentric

gravity, a the thermal expansivity, h
the depth, j the thermal diusivity
and ls species viscosity having a
selected, generally exponential, depth
dependence, concluding (see also
Davies 1999; Bercovici et al. 2000)
that the present Rayleigh number
exceeds Racritical by a factor between
104 and 106.
Under g including external field

Fig. 3 Palaeomagnetic pole path as summarized in a comprehensive recent review by

Besse and Courtillot (2002). The authors, as also Prevot et al. (2000), conclude that
TPW must be accepted as a truly global feature of Earth dynamics and essentially as
episodic, with periods of (quasi) standstill alternating with periods of faster TPW (in
the Cretaceous). Prevot et al. (2000) suggest that a major reorganization of the mass
distribution in Earths mantle occurred in the Lower Cretaceous, concomitant with a
well-established peak in plume activity at surface (Morgan 1981; Andrews 1985; Besse
and Courtillot 1991; OConnell et al. 2003), causing the pole path to change so rapidly
as almost to jump; whilst perceiving the rapidity of TPW, Besse and Courtillot (1991)
conclude that pole wander is likely to have taken place more smoothly than the
superfast episodes suggested by a number of authors. Sager and Koppers (2000) nd
evidence suggesting that an interval of little motion extended from 120 to 90 Ma,
being succeeded by wander at rates of 310 per million years culminating at
84 2 Ma, suggesting that the latter event represents a rapid shift of Earths spin
axis relative to the mantle (TPW), related to global change in plate motion.
(Reproduced from Besse and Courtillot 2002, with grateful acknowledgement.)

2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Examining dissipation within an

Earth rotating relative to the eld
of its massive companion the Moon,
MacDonald (1964) pointed out that
a phase lag perceived as having a
value )2.16 relative to the potential
exists in passage of the semi-diurnal
lunar tidal bulge; furthermore, a
similar value seems to have existed
as far back as the Middle Devonian
(350 Ma), as indicated by the observations of Wells (1963) (see also
Varga et al. 1998) relating the
growth ridges in fossil corals to the
number of days in the year. MacDonald went to lengths to point out
that only the long-term average
eects of [tidal] friction are of interest, and in search of the seat of the
dissipation pointed to the importance
of its quantication. It is pertinent
that in light of information then
available it was logical for this gifted
investigator to dismiss (MacDonald
1963, p. 513) the existence of mantle
convection, now seen likely to maintain mantle regions at yield point.
The following ventures to pursue this
further, incorporating current data
(Box 1; Fig. 1).
The mantle may be viewed as under
convection taking place under gravity
in intensity not very dierent from
purely geocentric, but in direction
57

Global tectonics under g having a minute westward tilt R.C. Bostrom

Terra Nova, Vol 18, No. 1, 5562

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subject to the minute secular lag or
global tilt noted by MacDonald
(1963), associated with acceleration
of the Moon and increase in length
of day; see also Shahabpour and
Trurnit (2001). To permit its consideration, Eq. (2a) is extended via the
addition of a term /0 SM
conv , specifying
the interaction of convection and the
lunar eld, so as to form
SM

/0 k2 / /0 conv /0

parison Table 1 displays dissipation in

terms of Q compatible with Eq. (2a),
adjacent to the extended solution under
discussion, incorporating the modulation term /0 SM
conv [Eq. (3)].
Dissipation under /0 SM
conv must consist largely of the part contributed by
the convection. Ray et al. (2001a) take
note of the enigmatic discrepant values
found by surface gravimetric observa-

tion (Melchior 1989,1994); see also

material by Varga et al. (1998) as to
this form of detectability. For lack of a
better explanation the discrepancy has
commonly been attributed to instrumental calibration error.
Albeit that its occurrence is not
crucial to the development of a
polarization under the mechanism
examined here (because no more

Marine dissipation then consists of

the sum of hydraulic dissipation processes as presently formulated, represented by the third term on the right
(still seen to constitute greatly the
larger portion), and dissipation under
the interaction potential /0 SM
conv . In
eect, the latter species modulation
of internally powered indigenous convection by the superimposed, lagging
marine tide.

Energetics
Estimates of dissipation in the M2
ocean tide ranging (Lambeck 1977) to
a value of 4.35 TW (1 TW 1012 W)
are reported by Platzman (1984; his
table 2; my Fig. 1). With the benet of
TOPEX/Poseidon altimetry, Egbert
and Ray (2003; their table 1) nd that
total M2 dissipation amounts to
2.435 TW, of which a proportion
(one-third) larger than previously supposed does not take place in shallow
seas.
Having in mind the highly superadiabatic convection noted earlier
(Eq. (1)), it seems logical to look for
eects associated with the secular
o-perpendicular component of g
responsible for Earths astronomically
observed deceleration, amounting to a
fraction sin 2.748 0.0479 of the
purely geocentric eld. In kind this
may be expected to produce asymmetry or polarization of the convection akin to that mooted earlier by
Doglioni (1990,1993).
Notable in this event is the energy
source: not tidal, although modulated
by the lag in g, but principally radiogenic, of genus believed abundantly to
account for orogenesis of the classical
sort and fundamental aspects of plate
motion. Its expenditure takes place,
albeit inconspicuously, under action of
the potential /0 SM
conv . To permit com58

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R.C. Bostrom Global tectonics under g having a minute westward tilt

Terra Nova, Vol 18, No. 1, 5562

.............................................................................................................................................................
than innitesimal tidal energy input
is required under deection of g to
eect modulation of convection
internally powered), it is proper at
this point to note Melchiors steadily
maintained conclusion (e.g., Melchior and Francis 1996) that highly
signicant solid Earth dissipation
takes place in the form of ocean
tidal loading. Unrecovered displacement taking place in sublithosphere
material held constantly at yield
point by thermal convection would
furthermore be compatible with a
guarded analysis by Zschau (1978);
his Section 4, p. 93) when at Princeton, sometimes overlooked, pointing
to the dissipation liable to take place
under oceanic loading essentially
constituting a component of the
convection.
It may be illogical to suppose that
highly superadiabatic convection
(Eq. (1)) will tend not to follow the
direction of g albeit containing a
permanent tilt, rather than remain
symmetrical. Unfortunately, dissipation under this term takes place in
almost perfect alias with respect to
the altimetrically and water depth
mapped surface tide, making its
measurement dicult in the extreme.
To pursue this independently of the
low contemporary values (Q
10

20) indicated geophysically, the

following refers to long-term, cumulative data.

Geologic record
Pioneering models of crustal motion
extending back to Wegener (1924)
incorporating an element of west
drift (e.g., Moore 1973; Gordon and
Jurdy 1986; Doglioni 1990,1993) have
encountered scepticism (Jordan 1974;
Ranalli 2000) based on the inability of
tidal forces such as the lunar retarding
torque to eect displacement within a
viscous Earth; see also Moser et al.
(1993a,b). It has been perceived for
some decades (Bostrom 1973, 2000,
following Jereys 1929) that acting
upon a non-convective earth tidal
forces are too feeble to produce net
displacement.

Plate motion
Pursuing what determines plate
motion, subsequent to earlier investigations (Hager and OConnell
1978,1981), OConnell et al. (1991)
have plotted the spectral components
of the observed toroidal and poloidal
velocity components vs. spherical-harmonic degree (Fig. 2), apparent in
model AMl-2 (Minster and Jordan

1978). A systematic relation then

becomes evident between velocity
and degree, reaching maximum at
degree 1. The latter species net lithosphere rotation (NLR) about the present spin axis.
Cadek and Ricard (1992) have concluded on the basis of more recent
plate-motion models (Gordon and
Jurdy 1986; Fleitout and Moriceau
1992) that at any rate during the
Cenozoic, whilst toroidal motion is
present, poloidal plate motion of the
type native to buoyancy convection
tends systematically to become dominant. Experimental computed extrapolation of plate motion at any of
several junctures indicates a critical
dependency on contemporary plate
geometry, equivalent to the disposition of viscosity and/or density heterogeneities. Conrming the existence of
NLR, these authors note that the
existence of such a rotation leads to a
puzzling problem, in that it suggests
the existence of a hard-to-accept induced or inducing net torque. The
anomalies are rendered no easier to
explain in that mantle convection (see
also Bercovici 1995) is compelled to
develop the conguration most eciently eecting heat eux from the
mantle. At present this is eected
(Davies 1999) to the extent of about

Fig. 4 Image series, data from independent sources, displaying major tectonic features, chiey placement of continents, referred
(left-hand column) to present-day coordinates, vs. (right-hand column) referred to orientation of contemporary, e.g., upper
Jurassic, spin axis. Within each column, rather than individually, images should be viewed as forming part of a sequence. The
almost space-xed orientation of the spin axis about which Goldreich and Toomre (1969) note that the Earth is constrained to
rotate, is represented as normal to the plane of the ecliptic. I am indebted to ODSN (Ocean Drilling Stratigraphic Network) at the
University of Bremen (E. Soding, personal communication) for sharing their global data set (Hay et al. 1999) and for cheerful
cooperative computing. (a) Reconstruction of geotectonic features, principally in the form of ocean/continent conguration, at
150 Ma. Besse and Courtillot (2002) suggest that TPW total of some 30 has taken place within the last 200 Ma; they locate the
polar axis at 151.6 Ma at 69.4N 297.5E, present coordinates (their Table 6b). The frame on right displays orientation of spin axis
when continents were located as shown. To experiment on the conservative side, while possibly greater (cf. Fig. 3), TPW is
assumed here to have been no more than 20. (b) Continent/ocean distribution, together with lithosphere magnetic features not yet
having been destroyed in subduction, at 110 Ma. The palaeomagnetic record derived by Prevot et al. (2000), employing greatly
selective magmatic rock samples, suggests the occurrence at this time of a tilting of the Earths rotation axis by 20. Again to be
conservative, I display a reorientation of Earths rotation axis, hence of the direction west, by 10. It will be observed that
subsequent to reorientation there has commenced opening of the Atlantic Ocean. (c) At 50 Ma. At about this juncture there took
place the celebrated early Cenozoic global plate reorganization identied by Rona and Richardson (1978), entailing reorientation
of relative plate motions having large northsouth components into large eastwest components, continuation of eastwest seaoor spreading and initiation of new sea-oor spreading. As from this time up through the Cenozoic, there has developed the
increasing prevalence of NLR reference the present Pole traced by Gordon and Jurdy (1986). Gordon (1997) points to evidence
that TPW of some 10 has taken place over the past 65 Ma. In respect to this event-series for which alone semi-adequate data are
available, covering less than one-tenth of geologic history, the location of the rotation pole appears to have determined not only
the development of an element of west drift, but the geometry of the engendered lithospheric plates; rather than the asymmetry in
sea-oor spreading and subduction being a product of plate geometry, both may well be the product of the minute asymmetry in g;
see also Doglioni et al. (2003). (d) At 5 Ma. Right-hand image: the Atlantics and high-latitude extensions continue their eastwest
expansion. Left-hand image: identiable dated magnetic lineaments are abundant in the Pacic hemisphere; lineament orientation
in the HawaiiEmperor seamounts region appears to record changes in lithosphere motion vs. hotspots currently the subject of
intense investigation (Steinberger and OConnell 1997,2002; Tarduno et al. 2003).

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59

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Terra Nova, Vol 18, No. 1, 5562

.............................................................................................................................................................
3
Cumulative
polar wander
due displacement of
principal axis of moment
(advection of mass
anomalies)

Polarization operator;
1
Surface-west
displacement bias
(under tilt in g)

Buoyancy
convection;
vigorous; unstructured.
Internal energy supply
(mainly radiogenic heat)

Fig. 5 A geotectonics composed of buoyancy convection (1, primary agency; lower

left), rendered coherent by sequential superimposition of, 2, west drift and, 3,
Harvardian polar wander. Components 2 and 3 are inseparably interactive. During
intervals of little or no polar wander, the phase lag in M2 being then almost purely
longitudinal, there develops ow polarization of the ilk formulated by the Rome
school of geotectonics (Doglioni 1990,1993; Ricard et al. 1991,1993), albeit evoking
incomprehension and incredulity (Ranalli 2000). Peaks in polar wander (component
3; cf. Fig. 3) entail alteration in the direction west. Beyond a critical value this entails
global rearrangement of mantle convection.

85% by way of oceanic-lithosphere

formation centred on the world rift
system; its sea-oor cooling and thickening; followed by its subduction and
reheating. Lithgow-Bertelloni et al.
(1993) and Lithgow-Bertelloni and
Richards (1995) have found a degree1, NLR motion component to have
been present throughout the Cenozoic. Its existence has been obscured
to a time-varying extent by regional
tectonic events of an apparently random nature. Changes in overall plate
motion are caused almost entirely by
those in the poloidal component,
attributable to buoyancy forces. The
toroidal component has remained relatively constant.

Asymmetry (net lithosphere

rotation)
With further reference to Fig. 2, subsequent to the demonstration by Goldreich and Toomre (1969) that as a
deforming body the Earth is compelled continually to spin about the
axis having the greatest moment of
60

inertia no matter how that axis

moves in accordance with changing
internal mass distribution, whilst
accepting the existence of a NLR
and kindred TPW, geological opinion
has varied greatly (Spada et al. 1992;
Moser et al. 1993a,b; Ricard et al.
1993; Kirschvink et al. 1997; Torsvik
et al. 1998; Prevot et al. 2000; Sager
and Koppers 2000; Tarduno and
Smirnov 2001; Norton 2002) as to its
magnitude and manifestation.
Gordon (1997) has identied a
possible association of the NLR established earlier by him (Gordon and
Jurdy 1986) with the palaeomagnetically recorded reorientation of Earths
rotation axis (TPW). Steinberger and
OConnell (1997) conclude that advection of density inhomogeneities
under convection is likely to lead to
cumulative polar wander, with entailed wander of the direction west,
further discussed in what follows. In
respect to the later part of geological
history a review by Besse and Courtillot (2002), Fig. 3, summarizes
current information as to both.

Based on this an exploratory serial

model (Fig. 4ad) displays side-byside tectonic situations computed with
and without taking into account
change in the direction west accordant with TPW. Accordingly (e.g.,
Fig. 4a), the regime referred to the
present pole of rotation and ocean/
continent distribution is shown adjacent to an image identical in every
way, except that the Earth body is
displayed relative to the almost spacexed early Cretaceous pole of rotation. Magnetic reference features are
displayed where surviving subduction,
so as to minimize hotspot-related
uncertainties as far as possible.

Polar wander; concomitant tilt in g

Comprehensive reanalysis by Steinberger and OConnell (2002) of
reorientation of the Earth relative to
its rotation axis (TPW) has demonstrated its near-inevitability under
convection, because of advection of
non-hydrostatic masses within the
heterogeneous mantle (cf. celebrated
previous treatments of this subject by
Gold 1955; Munk and MacDonald
1960; Goldreich and Toomre 1969;
Sabadini et al. 1982,1984; Moser et al.
1993a,b; Peltier and Jiang 1996; Mitrovica and Milne 1998). Earths rotation axis is now perceived both
observationally and in theory to follow closely the changing geographic
location of the axis of maximum
moment.
Subjected extraneously to alteration
in the direction west, development of a
west-directed global asymmetry develops feedback characteristics displayed
schematically in Fig. 5. A polarization
operator (component 2) represents the
action of the term /0 SM
conv [Eq. (3);
Table 1], the o-vertical component
of the buoyancy convection playing a
major role in global tectonics.
Correlating the regime described
with the tectonic record (our Fig. 4):
subsequent to a geologically abrupt
late-Cretaceous alteration in the direction palaeo-west (4a  4b), there
commenced opening of a new ocean,
the South Atlantic. Ongoing reorientation of the direction west, from a
few degrees WNW of present-day west
to present-day west, was accompanied
by establishment of the present geotectonic regime, in stages identied by
Gordon and Jurdy (1986).

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Terra Nova, Vol 18, No. 1, 5562

R.C. Bostrom Global tectonics under g having a minute westward tilt

.............................................................................................................................................................
Commencement of the Cenozoic
was marked by occurrence of the
global plate reorganization described
with remarkable clarity 25 years ago
by Rona and Richardson (1978; their
gs 1 and 2; see also Keller et al.
2004), taking the form of (i) reorientation of relative plate motions having
large northsouth components into
large eastwest components (ii) continuation of eastwest sea-oor
spreading and (iii) initiation of new
sea-oor spreading.

Conclusions
1. The internally powered mantle convection, which plays a major role in
geotectonics, becomes polarized in
compliance with the minute westward tilt in g.
2. Primarily eastwest, the polarization complies with the contemporary direction west dened by polar
wander (Steinberger and OConnell
2002), engendered by the convection itself.
3. Cumulative change in the direction
west (Fig. 5) seems eventually to
have necessitated global rearrangement of the cell structure, represented by the abrupt MesozoicTertiary
transition and ongoing NLR.

Acknowledgements
This investigation has beneted without
measure from correspondence and conversation with friends and colleagues, including notably: D. L. Anderson, D.
Bercovici, O. Cadek, C. Doglioni, R. G.
Gordon, T. W. C. Hilde, P. Melchior, R. T.
Merrill, R. J. OConnell, E. R. Oxburgh,
G. W. Platzman, M. Prevot, R. D. Ray, E.
Soding, S. Uyeda, P. D. Ward and, not
least, anonymous severe referees.

References
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Received 28 March 2005; revised version
accepted 26 September 2005

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