Understanding the Models

Modelling Expansion Tectonics is a uniquely simple and predictable process involving an increase in surface area of the Earth over time. This increase in surface area is related to the steady input of charged ionic particles emanating from the Sun via the solar wind. These charged particles recombine as new matter at the Earth's core-mantle interface, resulting in an increase in mantle volume over time. This increase in volume gives rise to a swelling of the mantle which is manifested at surface as crustal extension and an increase in surface area.

To understand this mechanism flip between the following Pliocene (Present-day) and Future GEOLOGY buttons. Flip between these two models and you will see the increase in surface area of the Earth depicted by the introduction of a navy blue coloured stripe along each of the centrally located mid-ocean-ridges. This navy blue coloured stripe represents the calculated area of new basaltic lava that will be intruded along each mid-ocean-ridge during the next 5 million years.

Next, flip between the following Pliocene (Present-day) and Miocene small Earth GEOLOGY models. Moving back in time you will notice the centrally located pink and red stripes disappear. Move forward in time and they will reappear. Each of the remaining tectonic plates are then precisely reunited along their respective mid-ocean-ridges on the smaller sized Earth model. Remember, you are moving back in time so the intruded volcanic lava represented by the pink and red coloured stripes must be returned to the mantle, where it came from, and similarly, the charged particles originally forming the basaltic lava molecules and elements are simply returned from the mantle back to the Sun where they also came from.