New explanation for polar wandering

Rodinian palaeogeographic configuration before the pair of large-amplitude TPW events (green line with 1σ error ellipses) with total duration of about 15 Myr. b, Schematic showing the results of two numerical simulations Credit: (c)Nature 491, 244–248. doi:10.1038/nature11571

(Phys.org)—Researchers using computer simulations and modeling have come up with two possible explanations for the phenomenon known as true polar wandering. The team led by Jessica Creveling of Harvard University, suggest in their paper published in the journal Nature, that dramatic shifts in the Earth's surface over millions of years, and then a return to the previous state, can be explained by bulging at the equator and elasticity of the planets outer shell.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-11-planetary-scientists-explanations-true-polar.html#jCp