The Rotation of the Earth
A Geophysical Discussion

This book gives an account of certain observed irregularities on the rotation of the Earth.

Walter H. Munk (Author), Gordon J. F. MacDonald (Author)

9780521104067, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 March 2009

348 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2 cm, 0.44 kg

This book gives an account of certain observed irregularities on the rotation of the Earth, both in its rate of rotation (giving a variable length of day) and in the position of its axis. These irregularities are caused by events on and within the Earth and provide a means of studying a number of geophysical problems. Seasonal shifts in air masses and variable winds are causes of short-period fluctuations in the rotation. Climatic changes and their attendant sea levels are in part responsible for long-term fluctuations. Modern observations of the Moon and descriptions of ancient elipses both establish a secular increase in the length of day. The interpretation involves atmospheric, oceanic and bodily tides. The book provides a unified treatment of the rotation of the Earth, making this method of studying geophysical phenomena more readily accessible to geophysicists and others.

Part I. Preview
Part II. Precession, nutation and wobble
Part III. Dynamics
Part IV. Deformation
Part V. Love numbers and associated coefficients
Part VI. Solutions to the approximate Liouville equation
Part VII. Observations of latitude
Part VIII. Observations of the length of day
Part IX. Seasonal and other short-period variations
Part X. Chandler wobble
Part XI. Historical variations
Part XII. Geological variations
Appendix
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Applied mathematics [PBW]