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Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: Ancient Imbalances Sent Earth's Continents "Wandering"


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An illustration shows what Earth's continents looked like 110 million to 100 million years ago and their rotation based on magnetic signatures in ancient rocks.

A new study suggests that the motion represents a phenomenon called true polar wander, in which Earth's landmasses become imbalanced compared to its spin axis and then move rapidly to right themselves.

Image courtesy Bernhard Steinberger