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nyadney nyadney
 
M$2 August 23, 2009 06:57 PM

Does GPS create any direct evidence for continental drift?

Just about everybody knows of the idea of continental drift. Most, including myself, accept the theory. It makes sense.

The evidence used to justify the theory of continental drift includes correlation between rock types along the sea shores on all the continents, plus the fact that the continents look like they could easily fit around each other without many imperfections.

My expertise in geology is fairly limited, but from what I remember, the continents are drifting away from each other at a rate of between .5 and 6 inches per year.

My question, then, is this: since modern consumer GPS equipment is precise enough to determine it's own location on the fly to within a few feet, surely scientific equipment would be more accurate yet. Has science used GPS to measure the exact rate at which the continents are drifting away from each other, so as to add one more piece of evidence to the mountain supporting the theory of continental drift?
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madgolerto... madgolerto...
 
 August 23, 2009 07:19 PM
The BBC has documented a case where continental drift has been measured by GPS. According to GPS systems, the UK is drifting northeast at a rate of 2-3 cm per year.

That's a very interesting application of GPS I never considered! Great idea. I'm sure you could apply the same to other nations/landmasses.
Source(s):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/nottinghamshire/2956026.stm

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Tags: continental, drift

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omicron omicron
 
August 23, 2009 09:05 PM
The answer is yes, GPS has been used to measure continental drift.

Also, note that continental drift is way beyond being a "theory". It's an observable fact.

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nyadney nyadney
 
August 24, 2009 05:42 AM
Continental drift is, in scientific terms, a theory, just like evolution or gravity. Being called a theory doesn't make it any less factual, it simply allows for science to modify the principles in light of new evidence.

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dsull04 dsull04
 
August 24, 2009 01:07 AM
A Gps does not show any evidence of continental drift. The reason for the gps to be unaccurate at times is that it is either a satellite problem or an intenna problem.

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albanian albanian
 
August 24, 2009 01:37 AM
A personal GPS is not up to the task, but a network of scientific GPS's is.

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nyadney nyadney
 
August 24, 2009 05:41 AM
A personal GPS is intended to calculate your location to within a few dozen meters and to do so on the fly. What's possible with sensitive, stationary, scientific equipment is far superior to your car's TomTom.

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