True Polar Wander, Geotesselation and Earth Structure

地球试图在保持角动量的同时最小化它的旋转能量：最引人注目的预测结果是真正的极移（TPW）。本提案旨在通过以下理论考虑，对TPW和相关的旋转能量减少影响有一个系统的理解：(i) Geotesselation: TPW后果的特征是什么特定的板块构造模式（如果有的话）？例如，我们能理解主要俯冲带的南北向走向吗？（ii）耦合：TPW是否需要岩石圈和地幔相互（“锁定”）旋转，或者它们可以单独运动？初步工作表明，锁定TPW是强制性的；需要进行更全面的分析。（三）地幔环流是否受地球自转影响？数量级计算表明，答案可能是肯定的，至少在一定程度上是这样。提出了线性稳定性分析和近似有限振幅分析来支持或反驳这一猜想。（iv）若TPW与地磁或古地磁资料有何关系？(v)我们是否能够了解哪些特殊情况有利于或阻碍真实地球的TPW ？

The Earth seeks to minimize its rotational energy while conserving angular momentum: the most striking predicted consequence of this is true polar wander (TPW). This proposal is to develop a systematic understanding of TPW and related rotational energy reduction affects, by a theoretical consideration of the following: (i) Geotesselation: What particular plate tectonic patterns (if any) are characteristic of the consequences of TPW? Can one, for example, understand the N-S trend of major subduction zones? (ii) Coupling: Does TPW require mutual ("locked") rotation of lithosphere and mantle or can these move separately? Preliminary work suggests that locked TPW is mandatory; a more complete analysis is needed. (iii) Is mantle circulation affected by earth rotation? Order-of-magnitude calculations suggest that the answer may be yes, at least to a modest degree. Linear stability analysis and approximate finite amplitude analyses are proposed to bolster or disprove this conjecture. (iv) What relationship, it any, is there between TPW and geomagnetic or paleomagnetic data? (v) Can we understand what particular circumstances favor or inhibit TPW of the real Earth?