We are fortunate indeed that Neal Adams http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal_Adams the DC Comics book illustrator has taken a deep interest in the subject and created stunning animations showing the growth not just of Earth but pretty much every planet and moon with a hard surface (so we can see geological history)

http://www.nealadams.com/nmu.html

There can be very little doubt that Earth once existed as a smaller planet with a shell made up of the present continental land masses. I have checked and gross mineral and geological features connect across the Pacific as well as the Atlantic. I am sure some matching fingerprint deposits can be identified to put the matter beyond reasonable doubt into certainty.

Neal Adams has a theory that matter is being created continuously inside bodies in space ie everything i
s expanding and gaining more mass. However there is a huge flaw in this - it is clear earth underwent a SUDDEN expansion. A gradual accretion of mass from whatever source cannot explain this. I have another theory.

Any successful theory must explain how earth underwent a phase transition.

I propose the expansion was driven by the release of huge amounts of Hydrogen from the Earth's core.

If during the accretion process the dust cloud was a charged plasma it is possible protons and electrons became separated. Under intense heat a6nd pressure a state of semi-collapsed matter may have been created which would gravitate to the core. In other worlds the core of Earth was supercondensed hydrogen - either alone or possibly as iron Hydride.

Earth over time cooled. It is possible that at some point the Earth becomes less able to hold hydrogen in this plasma state. We get the start of a hydrogen driven expansion.

This expansion may well have exceeded today's Earth size. In FACT many evolutionary features support this, notably the giantism of the dinosaur age.

IMO the thing that has been holding back acceptance of Expanding Earth is the lack of a suitable mechanism. Here I provide a possible if not likely mechanism.

Also -consider how Earth surface and atmosphere chemistry would be changed by release of Hydrogen. Abiogenic hydrocarbons, water, methane, ammonia, the stuff of life. Excess hydrogen would be released into space especially with a lower G larger diameter Earth.

From what I have read some mass extinction events suggest depleted oxygen.

So my theory in a nutshell

> Hydrogen formation drives planetary expansion
> Loss into space and reaction with other elements subsequently causes planetary contraction
> Evolution was kick-started by the release of Hydrogen and creation of life molecules
> Life conforms to the current size of the Planet

Over to you