Deglaciation effects on the rotation of the Earth

Abstract

Summary. The viscoelastic response of the Earth to the mass displacements caused by late Pleistocene deglaciation and concomitant sea level changes is shown to be capable of producing the secular motion of the Earth's rotation pole as deduced from astronomical observations. The calculations for a viscoelastic Earth yield a secular motion in the direction of 72° W meridian which is in excellent agreement with observed values. The average Newtonian viscosity and the relaxation time obtained from polar motion data are about (1.1 ± 0.6)1023 poise (P) and 104 (1 ± 0.5) yr. The non‐tidal secular acceleration of the Earth can also be attributed to the viscoelastic response to deglaciation and results in an independent viscosity estimate of 1.6 × 1023 P with upper and lower limits of 1.1 × 1023 and 2.8 × 1023 P. These values are in agreement with those based on the polar drift analysis and indicate an average mantle viscosity of 1–2 × 1023 P. Copyright © 1980, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved