3-D Finite Element Simulation of the Global Tectonic Changes Accompanying Noah's Flood | The Institute for Creation Research

 
3-D Finite Element Simulation of the Global Tectonic Changes Accompanying Noah's Flood

Download PDFDownload 3-D Finite Element Simulation of the Global Tectonic Changes Accompanying Noah's Flood PDF

Presented at the Second International Conference on Creationism, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 30–August 4, 1990. Published in: Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Creationism, R. E. Walsh & C. L. Brooks (Eds.), pp. 35–44, 1990.

© 1990 Creation Science Fellowship, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Published with permission. All rights reserved.

Abstract

This paper presents a mechanism for the large-scale tectonic change that accompanied Noah’s Flood. It assumes that the onset of the Flood only a few thousand years ago correlates with the notable stratigraphical and paleontological discontinuity of the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary. This implies that the geological history recorded in the rocks usually classified as Paleozoic and Mesozoic unfolded in a catastrophic manner within a few months time. It also suggests that the primary energy source for the catastrophe was the gravitational potential energy of the pre-Flood ocean lithosphere relative to the base of the mantle. The geological and geophysical data suggest that subduction of the pre-Flood ocean lithosphere began around the margin of a pre-Flood supercontinent. It is proposed that the mantle’s viscosity at that time was lower than at present to permit rapid sinking of the lithosphere into the mantle and that the sinking rate was enhanced by a thermal runaway effect associated with a temperature-dependent rheology and localized shear heating near the slabs. Rapid replacement of the cold, dense pre-Flood oceanic lithosphere with hot, less dense mantle material from below resulted in significant elevation of the ocean floors relative to the continental surfaces causing a temporary rise in the world sea level by as much as 1,500 m. Huge volumes of sea water were converted to pressurized steam where the ocean floors rifted apart to produce intense global rain. The deformations induced in the mantle pulled the supercontinent apart, opened the present Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and caused large vertical tectonic motions that strongly influenced sedimentation patterns on the continents. A 3-D spherical finite element simulation of the dynamics of this catastrophe is described.

Keywords

Noah’s Flood, Subduction, Lithospheric Slabs, Thermal Runaway, Numerical Experiment

For Full Text

Please see the Download PDF link above for the entire article.

The Latest
NEWS
April 2025 ICR Wallpaper
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things...

NEWS
Human Evolution and the Inner Ear
The vain attempt by evolutionists to make an evolutionary connection between people and ape-like ancestors continues. This time, it is in regard to...

CREATION PODCAST
Defending the Faith with a Rocket Scientist | Creation.Live Podcast:...
How do engineering principles, biological complexity, and a solid understanding of apologetics work together to further the cause of Christ? Why...

NEWS
Aerobic and Anaerobic Hot Spring Bacteria
God designed a domain of prokaryotes called Archaea that thrive in harsh and extreme environments. In 1969, two microbiologists, Thomas Brock and Hudson...

CREATION PODCAST
The Soulless Hominid Theory: A Fatal Flaw in Old Earth Creationism...
Welcome to the second episode in a series called “The Failures of Old Earth Creationism.” Many Christians attempt to fit...

NEWS
Humpback Whale Calls Echo Creation
There is nothing simple about the system of communication called language, whether animal or human.1 Human language is a very sophisticated...

NEWS
Mary Parker, Creation Ministry Partner of Dr. Gary Parker, Is...
Mary Parker, the wife and co-laborer of Dr. Gary Parker, went home to be with her Lord on March 20, 2025. Dr. Parker was a popular and effective...

NEWS
Plants Rely on Quantum Mechanics
Scientists will probably never fully understand photosynthesis as additional research uncovers even more fascinating mysteries.1,2 ICR’s...

NEWS
Martian Polar Ice Cap ''Surprisingly Young''?
A team of German planetary scientists has concluded that a three-kilometer-thick northern polar ice cap on Mars has a “surprisingly young”...

NEWS
''Blood Worm Moon'' Total Lunar Eclipse 2025
Barring cloud cover, about 75% of the country saw the total lunar eclipse, aka the “Blood Worm Moon.” Texas had good weather conditions...