Formation and Development Forecast of the Western Arctic as a Segment of the Atlantic–Arctic Rift System

The article overviews the existing data and ideas about the structure of the Atlantic–Arctic rift system, the youngest segment of which is the Western Arctic. The main properties of this system are the direction of its progradation towards the North Pole, the submeridional orientation of the rifts, their separation by latitudinal faults, and predominantly left-lateral shear displacement of individual segments. It is assumed that such a structure reflects the regularities in the distribution of lithospheric masses under the influence of the rotational factor. Their striving towards an equilibrium position relative to the axis of rotation is realized due to movements towards and along the equator. These processes ensure growth of the rift system; however, no driving forces for its further development after reaching the pole have been identified. An analog model of the sequential segregation of segments in a growing rift system is proposed.