Abstract
Fossil evidence indicates that parts of the earth are subject to secular deformation at rates less than 10-17 per second. Evidence is presented to suggest that non-reversing strain steps associated with seismicity are concentrated in the tectonic belts. It is unknown whether mass displacement in the earth’s outer shells is accomplished principally as strain steps or by means of processes of flow and glide so far undetectable. Strain observations are required in the earth’s old stable cratons as well as in the tectonic belts. To progress in the observation of secular strain imposition a stable length standard is required. No information exists that changes in the velocity of light are less than changes in the strain state of earth materials. For this and other reasons it is concluded that a stable etalon is more suitable as reference than a length unit defined by a frequency standard such as an atomic clock. The design is described employing strain-imaging of a stress-free coupling to the crust; and of an etalon having stability in respect to geological rates of deformation.
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© 1970 D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland
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Bostrom, R.C. (1970). The Measurement of Small Earth Strains. In: Mansinha, L., Smylie, D.E., Beck, A.E. (eds) Earthquake Displacement Fields and the Rotation of the Earth. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 20. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-3308-4_19
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-3308-4_19
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