So how did the GC get laid down from a mainstream POV? Deterministic models?

"All part of the rough-and-tumble. As long as it doesn't turn nasty, it's half the fun of the boards. You should see what poor TC has to put up with!"
--It sure is, though I find it quite amusing much of the time. Its all part of the routine here, someone makes an assertion, itterates it all around the board pre-discussion. On to the discussion, the refutation, etc. But then when evident conclusions have been made, or the opponent obviously with-draws, I get to go look back at all the previous posts and silently laugh the crap out of myself! [No pun intended]--Sorry about the spelling, quick post, no spell checker.------------------

"We know that the earth maintains a 'rough' balance between spreading and subduction. However, in terms of driving forces, subduction is not driven by ridge spreading per se, it is due to the negative buoyancy of the slab."
--Is it? I had the impression that plate divergence was the product (or atleast the main consequence) of mantle convection. This also if incorrect may attribute some speculation on the speed at which the mantle convects. Maybe my speculation is just the cause of reading some slightly older material. ------------------

​

[This message has been edited by TrueCreation, 05-25-2002]