is the earth getting fatter?

[Katieface]

this might sound stupid but...as archaeologists have to dig downwards to recover artefacts from thousands of years ago, does that mean that the earth has grown fatter with dirt and soil? if so, does that explain global warming? because we must be getting closer to the sun?

[Loosehead]

The Eartth is getting "fatter" but only tiny amounts about 200lbs a year from meteorites etc. Things left alone tend to get buried by the long term processes that work continually all over the planet.. The proximity of the sun is irrelevant in fact it's closest in the Northern Hemisphere winter so any miniscule "growth" in circumference is of no consequence.

[Gef]

It is stupid so, no and no respectively.

[Gef]

And I should have added a third no.

[Toureman]

It does sound stupid.

Reminds me of my father in law, I dug out some earth to make a pond and left it in a pile, he suggested I bury it to get rid of it !

[mibn2cweus]

A fatter Earth would provide more shade on the dark side and create a thinner distribution of the atmosphere reducing heat retention . . . but seriously . . .

Archeological artifacts are both buried and exposed by erosion. Determining the age of an artifact found at a specific depth requires the dating of the artifact itself or something found in the immediate vicinity through other means, such as radio carbon dating or dendrochronology, since depth alone is usually unreliable for determining age.

dating methods

[lady_p_gold]

It doesn't sound stupid to me, there is nothing wrong in having an enquiring mind even though to some it might seem obvious. Hopefully this site is for people with knowledge to answer questions from those who do not have so much knowledge on a subject ... for all we know Katieface might be an expert on wine tasting and might be answering someone in Food and Drink who doesn't know a Cabernet from a Cabinet.

[Loosehead]

Well I tried to be constructive Ladyp!

[mibn2cweus]

lady_p_gold, they are both pritty much the same, provided the cabinet has an alcoholic beverage stored in it . . . Imho

Katieface, lady_p_gold is to be commended for supporting your courage to present your hypothesis of the cause of global warming. This is how we learn, by speculating. Imagine the howls that went up in the physics community when Albert Einstein, a patant clerk, proposed that time and distance are relative variables.

[Katieface]

Well thankyou everybody for your input, especially lady p! I take a keen interest in archaeology and love learning about our ancestors and about how the world began. I'm sorry for those people who cannot conduct an adult debate (i'm not going to name names but i'm sure we all know who i'm talking about). This site is for people who want to learn, need advice, or have serious questions about subjects that interest them. So i don't think that there is any need for smart answers from people who obviously don't know what they're talking about.

Rant over...thankyou again to the people who answered my question. xx

[RSleepy]

This isn't a stupid question at all - I was wondering exactly the same thing. I presume that erosion is the converse of sedimentation and both happen. For example, the Tors of Dartmoor are eroded mountains. I can only presume that in general the uplands are eroded and the sediment deposited in valleys. Where archeologist see layers of sediment, its possible to assume sequences. These layers may be disturbed by plate tectonics. This is a very serious question and not at all obvious IMO.

[RSleepy]

Far from being a stupid question, I think this shows serious intelligence, just to think enough to wonder about this. I'm also interested in archeology and wondered the same thing. I presume that exposed uplands get eroded by wind and rain - the Tors of Dartmoor are the eroded remenants of a mountain range. The valleys have sediment deposited. Classical answers seem to hold rivers responsible for a lot, although I'd guess wind and rain more so. Where sediment is deposited over geological timespans, the classical archeological dating may be inferred. I'm guessing a lot - more serious answers from people who know would be appreciated. I repeat, IMO this is by no means a silly question! Thanks:)