The Vailan or annular theory: A synopsis of Prof. I. N. Vail's argument in support of the claim that this Earth once possessed a Saturn-like system of rings

by Stephen Bowers

Jupiter’s belts are doubtless aqueous vapor driven from that planet by heat; similar in every respect, probably, to the primitive condition of our globe. This vapor would not all fall at once on the cooling of the earth, but the upper portion would continue to revolve for a long period.

All geologists agree that the earth was once in an igneous fluid state, and during that condition all of its waters and whatever else could be vaporized and sublimed by heat, as the less refractory metals and minerals, were driven away from its surface. The foundation of the Annular System was the molten or igneous world. The vaporized water, mineral and metallic elements repelled from it existed as a great vaporized atmosphere that rotated with the earth.

If the earth then rotated once in twenty-four hours, so did the atmosphere. Proctor and some others claim that the earth then rotated in three hours; if so, the atmosphere did the same. No matter how long or how short the period of the earth’s rotation, the upper vapors rotated with it. Then, when and how did these vapors and other materials composing the atmosphere return to the earth? Geologists generally have claimed that they fell at the close of the igneous period; but the Annular Theory claims that they did not, and it undertakes to explain the phenomena of the geologic ages and epochs upon this claim.

The most eminent scientists agree that the vapors were driven off at least 200,000 miles from the earth, and many claim a distance of 240,000 miles. All of the carbon in the grand casement of aqueous rocks, the vast oceans of oxygen now contained in the silicates, sulphates, carbonates and oxides of the crust, as well as the nitrogen and hydrogen in numerous compounds enormously swelled its volume. But the Annular Theory will claim but 100,000 miles as the atmosphere and that the earth rotated as now, once in twenty-four hours. At the equator it revolves at the rate of 1,000 miles an hour, at which rate the periphery of the earth’s primitive atmosphere would revolve more than 25,000 miles an hour.

Now it is mathematically certain that a body in our atmosphere revolving at the rate of 17,500 miles an hour could not fall to the earth’s surface. By Kepler’s “Third Law” we can readily demonstrate not only that these vapors were thrown out into a ring system, but how far beyond the earth they reached, namely: “The squares of the periodic times of revolving satellites are proportioned to the cubes of their mean distances from the primary around which they move.”

The vapors nearest the earth did not possess the energy of satellites, consequently they fell to the earth, as the latter’s surface cooled, leaving the more distant matter moving independently above it.

EVIDENCES OF THE GEOLOGIC RECORD.

When the earth was in a state of fiery fluidity, all of the water it now contains was suspended at a great distance above it. Beside the oceans which now cover three-fourths of the surface of the globe, rocks and coals contain from ten per cent to one half water, all of which was primarily held in suspension. The bosom of the earth is continually absorbing water as is demonstrated by deep mines and other excavations. Dana estimates that even if the crust of the earth is but five miles thick that the oceans would be 400 feet deeper if all of the earth’s imbibed waters could be returned to them. But the earth’s crust is more likely to be 100 miles thick, and it has been imbibing these waters for millions of years if not millions of ages. This would increase the oceans to about 8000 feet deeper than now. Yet oceans are much deeper today than they were in geologic times.

This great mass of vapor would rotate by centrifugal force at the equator, but there being no such force at the poles it was there kept from falling by heat alone. If the earth had not rotated the vapors would have occupied great heights; but centrifugal force being aided by actual rotation they were driven much farther. These forces necessarily drove the vapors over the equator. If, however, any vapors were left at the poles they must have fallen when the earth cooled down.

At that age rolled the first born ocean around the globe. Clouds formed, rain descended, and winds swept the earth. There was summer and winter, and day and night.