Cause of East-West Earth Asymmetry

TL;DR

This paper proposes that the east-west asymmetry of Wadati-Benioff zones is primarily caused by internal Coriolis forces resulting from Earth's rotation, challenging the traditional tidal drag explanation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel geodynamic model attributing the asymmetry to internal Coriolis effects during mantle material extrusion, contrasting with prior external tidal force theories.

Findings

Coriolis forces can significantly influence mantle dynamics.

The asymmetry may be explained by internal planetary causes.

Astrogeodetic evidence supports the new model.

Abstract

The different slope of the Wadati-Benioff zones oriented towards east and west is considered a main asymmetry of the Earth's globe. Under the Americas they have angles of about 30o, while under the Pacific east coasts (Asia, Japan) the angles are steeper. In the framework of plate tectonics geodynamics the cause of this difference can be identified in the tidal drag that would cause a global shift of the lithosphere towards west. But this solution has been many times criticized on the basis of the irrelevance of the tidal forces with respect to viscous friction. Instead, it is possible to show that in a different framework, in which sudden extrusions of mantle materials occur by local phase change toward a more unpacked lattice, the value of the Coriolis fictitious force can rise of several magnitude orders, becoming the main cause of the east-west asymmetry of the Wadati-Benioff zones, which might be ascribed entirely to internal causes of the planet (its rotation and geodynamics) and not to external causes (influence of other celestial bodies). Some astrogeodetic clues supporting the new geodynamic scenario are scrutinized.