Underground Rivers - University of New Mexico

Chapter 10 -- Geophysical, Pnuematic and Electromagnetic Engines
CHAPTER 10
GEOPHYSICAL, PNEUMATIC AND ELECTROMAGNETIC
ENGINES
This chapter concludes our survey of misdirected explanations for the mechanism of
subterranean streamflow. We will discuss nine additional hypotheses, all physically based, at
least in superficial sense. The flaws in some schemes are apparent to the modern eye; others
may appear plausible until a few numbers are crunched. All, however, made sense to
progressive thinkers of their own day.
Our engines will derive from
Terrestrial Asymmetry,
The Weight of the Sea,
Siphoning,
Sloshing,
The Earth's Compressibility,
Capillary Action,
Earthquakes,
Pneumatics and
Electromagnetism
While several of the above inter-relate, their proponents may not have recognized the relation
and we wish to do our best to look -- at lest for a moment -- through the eyes of the advocates.
Terrestrial Asymmetry
Springs
Ocean
If the sea were higher than the land, ocean water would flow downhill to the mountaintops.
Job 37:10, Jeremiah 5:22 and Proverbs 8:29, assuring that God fixed the sea’s boundaries so
that it will not overflow the land, were sufficient to satisfy the curiosity of most medieval thinkers
gazing from the shore. The eye arbitrates what seems level and the arc of horizon indeed looks
high.
But for Christians drawn to natural philosophy, there must be a physical rule to which the Biblical
speaks.
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