The Weight of Water

Why is it only Earth? A New Perspective on Plate Tectonics

Why is it that only Earth, among all the rocky planets in the Solar System, exhibits active plate tectonics? What if the answer is right in front of us, or rather, all around us?

In this book, I propose a new lens for understanding the dynamics of the Earth's crust: Water as a tectonic force. Far from being a mere lubricant or melting facilitator in the mantle, Water, with its colossal weight, uneven distribution, and dynamic behavior, is presented as the true engine of plate movement.

Through comparisons with other planets, visual analogies such as the "stone raft" and the "submerged Roman arch," and an accessible and intuitive analysis, this work questions the foundations of the traditional theory of Plate Tectonics. The book suggests that the weight of water is capable of initiating the sinking of oceanic plates, pushing magma at ridges, and explaining phenomena that still challenge classic models today.

More than a critique, "The Weight of Water" is an invitation to scientific reflection and a dialogue of perspectives, where water, an element essential to life, may also be the missing key to understanding the mysteries of Earth and other rocky bodies.