The Earth's Shifting Crust by Charles Hapgood - wire of information

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EARTH'S SHIFTING CRUST
climates different from those in which their modern descend-
ants live. I believe his method establishes beyond question
the existence of climatic zones all through the geologic past.
Dr. Bain begins with a precise definition of each climatic
zone in terms of the quantities of the sun's heat reaching the
earth's surface. He points out that, as is known, the seasonal
variation of this heat increases with distance from the equator
(18:16). He then describes the global wind pattern resulting
from this distribution of the sun's energy, defining clearly
the conditions of the horse latitudes, in which most of the
earth's deserts are found, and the meteorology of the polar
fronts. He shows that there are distinct and different com-
plete chemical cycles in each of these areas, and correspond-
ing cycles in the sea. Many of the chemical compounds produced
in each of these areas are included, naturally, in the
rocks formed from the sediments, and they remain as perma-
nent climatic records.
It is impossible, because of limitations of space, to do jus-
tice to Dr. Bain's comprehensive approach to this question.
There appears to be no room for doubt, however, that great
differences exist between the mineral components of the
different climatic zones, as determined by the amount of the
sun's radiant heat. With regard to the polar soils, in addition,
it is noteworthy that they are developed in circles on the
earth's surface, rather than in bands. Temperate and tropical
soils are, of course, found in bands, since the zones are bands
that encircle the earth.
It will be clear to the reader that Dr. Bain has established
a sound method for the study of the climates of the past. He
has applied his method to the study of the climates of two
periods, the Jurassic-Cretaceous and the Carboniferous-Permian,
with very significant results. He has concluded, first,
that climatic zones, representing the different distributions of
solar heat, existed in those periods just as at present. This is
proved by the specific remanent chemicals included in these
rocks, which differ exactly as do the sediments of the different