Abstract
IN 1926, Prof. E. W. Brown presented the evidence indicating remarkable changes in the rate of the earth's rotation (Trans. of the Astronomical Observatory of Yale University, vol. 3, part 6). Changes, more or less abrupt, were shown to have occurred about 1785, 1850, 1898, and 1918. Prof. Brown finds that the observational data are consistent with the hypothesis of an oscillatory change in the earth's mean radius. Why the earth should expand and contract, he makes no suggestion, but gives a study of the occurrence of earthquakes, which, however, shows no well-defined correlation. He cites a theory of Prof. Joly (Observatory, February, 1926) that the vertical oscillations of the earth's crust may be caused by a thermal effect of radium acting in a substratum of basalt.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
KING, E. Rotation of the Earth and Magnetostriction. Nature 123, 15–16 (1929). https://doi.org/10.1038/123015a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/123015a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.