top | item 46944288

(no title)

repelsteeltje | 20 days ago

Not a geologist, but interesting that many of these sites are close to equator. Suppose that's where mountains are higher because tectonic plates are more active?

Anyone with expertise want to comment?

discuss

order

kmaitreys|20 days ago

Not a geologist either but an astronomer. Never heard that tectonic activity has any association with proximity to equator.

Mountains can rise higher near equator because you have the least gravity there. The whole Earth bulges along the equator. But I don't think it's measurable.

iso1631|20 days ago

While Everest (8849m) is the highest point above Sea Level, Chimborazo (6267m) in Ecuador is further from the centre of the Earth (about 2000 metres further), due to the equatorial bulge. It's very measurable.

jmalicki|20 days ago

It's also interesting because the radius of curvature is smaller, meaning the distance to the horizon is shorter north south, and a lot of these views are north south. So the increase in mountain height more than overcomes the other effect!