Abstract
The Earth-Moon system evolved quite considerably since its formation, both as regards its orbital parameters and the kinetic and dynamic properties of its individual components. The evolution in time of the interior and surface features of the Earth depends on a number of endogenous and exogenous factors. Exogenous agents of geological evolution are, for instance, meteorite impacts and luni-solar interactions causing tidal deformations. Primary endogenic evolutionary factors are the decay of abundant radioactive elements, as well as physical segregation and chemical fractionation processes, producing gravitational energy release and compositional change. Climatic mechanisms, such as glaciation-deglaciation cycles, which have both exogenous and endogenous causes, quite evidently also produce geological change which, however, seems to be of a more or less cyclic nature and probably does not affect the Earth’s deep interior. The purpose of this paper is to consider some aspects of the evolution over geological time spans which are, or may be, a consequence of the Earth’s tidal despinning.
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Denis, C., Varga, P. (1990). Tectonic Consequences of the Earth’s Variable Rotation on Geological Time Scales. In: Brosche, P., Sündermann, J. (eds) Earth’s Rotation from Eons to Days. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75587-3_17
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