Monday, May 21, 2018

Land Tides


On August 23, 1981 the New York Times published an article by Walter Sullivan titled LAND TIDES MAY AFFECT EARTH’S CORE AND ROTATION.
Paraphrased, this article states the tallest structures in the city, at that time the World Trade Center Towers, rise and fall about 14 inches twice a day. They also tilt about two inches west and then east.  We are unaware of the shift in the earth’s crust just as a shipboard observer out to sea is unaware of the shifting tides in the ocean. Earth tides like the ocean tides are created mainly by the gravitational tug of the moon. Special instruments are used to accurately measure the movement and scientists hope to learn more about the effect on the earth’s crust and the molten material at its core.
ESCAPING YELLOWSTONE, my latest novel, is based on the tidal effect of the moon on the great-lakes-size pool of lava under Yellowstone and a near earth object that is approaching earth.
Two scientists, an astronomer Lisa Wilson based in Hawaii, and a geologist Cody Street based in Yellowstone.  The two are brought together when Street approaches Lisa to learn more about the effect of land tides and if they are influencing the behavior of the earthquake activity in the Yellowstone caldera. Lisa and Cody strike up a friendship that leads to love and they decide to bring their two families to Yellowstone to celebrate Christmas deep in the park.  December in Yellowstone is beautiful and sure to provide plenty of snow for the kids. It is also a foreboding place with -40°F temperatures common and little in the way of communication or transportation. Neither are expecting what happens next and both know the likelihood of getting any of them out of the wilderness in the wake of a disaster is remote at best.
For those who like a fast-paced techno-thriller, Escaping Yellowstone is a perfect read. Find out more about it on this link. Escaping Yellowstone