Plate Wizard updates within the latest release of PaleoGISJohn Watson

14-11-2013

Project RationaleWhat is Plate Wizard?

Plate Wizard | Robertson 20132

What is Plate Wizard?

Plate Wizard | Robertson 20133

Deformable global plate model for the Phanerozoic, data constrained for the Cenozoic and Mesozoic

Accurately reconstructs and predicts past positions and geometries of rigid and deformable plates

User friendly ArcMap toolbar to accurately reconstruct geo-referenced datasets (lines, points, polygons) to their palaeo-locations

Models deformation at extensional plate boundaries of the Atlantic, Southern Australian and Western Indian Ocean to restore extended continental crust to its pre-rift geometry

Plate Wizard | Robertson 20134

Rigid and Deformable Plate ModelPlate boundary definitions

Plate model rotation

Plate boundary definitions – geological and geophysical data

Structural datasets Fieldwork Palaeogeographic mapping

Plate Wizard | Robertson 20135

Crustal thickness (m) Magnetic Anomaly (nT)FAG (mGal)

Plate model rotation – Hybrid model for Plate Wizard 4

Plate Wizard 2 and 3

Fixed Hotspot reference frame – 0 to 250 Ma

Plate Wizard 4 (Release date: end 2013)

Fixed Hotspot reference frame – 0 to 120 Ma

Palaeo-mag reference frame – 120 to 440 Ma

Plate Wizard | Robertson 20136

Plate Wizard 3

Plate Wizard 4

Plate Wizard | Robertson 20137

Plate Wizard in ApplicationIndian Ocean deformable model

Reconstructing data with Plate Wizard

Plate Wizard as a base for Palaeogeographic Mapping – Merlin+

Indian Ocean deformable model – 250 Ma

1:12,500,000 / WGS 1984

SM

S LR

EB

SL

Mad

agas

car

India

East Antarctica

MPG

LGR

LE

Mo

Ma

R

EB: Elan Bank / GR: Gunnerus Ridge / L: Lambert Rift / LE: Lamu Embayment / LR: Laxmi Ridge / M: Mahanadi Rift / Ma: Majunga Basin / Mo: Morondava Basin / PG: Pranhita-Godavari Rift / R: Rovuma / S: Seychelles / SL: Sri Lanka / SM: Saya de Malha

Mozambique

Tanzania

Plate Wizard | Robertson 20138

Madagascar docked against East Africa

Seychelles and Laxmi Ridge joined to northeast India and East Africa

Saya de Malha in-between Madagascar and India (based on Yatheesh et al, 2006)

170Ma: Initial separation of Antarctica-Africa relative to India-Madagascar during the Early to Mid Jurassic (based upon reviews by Reeves & De Wit, 2000 and Gaina et al, 2007). 1:12,500,000 / WGS 1984

SM

S LR

EB

SL

Madagascar

India

East Antarctica

MPG

LE

Mo

Ma

R

EB: Elan Bank / GR: Gunnerus Ridge / L: Lambert Rift / LE: Lamu Embayment / LR: Laxmi Ridge / M: Mahanadi Rift / Ma: Majunga Basin / Mo: Morondava Basin / PG: Pranhita-Godavari Rift / R: Rovuma / S: Seychelles / SL: Sri Lanka / SM: Saya de Malha

GR

Mozambique

Tanzania

Indian Ocean deformable model – 170 Ma

Plate Wizard | Robertson 20139

Madagascar and Seychelles rift from East Africa

Seafloor spreading initiates at ~160Ma and East Africa based on Muller et al, 2008 isochron dataset

Reconstructing data with Plate Wizard

North Atlantic deformable model with Tellus structural data (in grey) and sediment isopach data (in red) reconstructed with the plate model

The data are intersected with the plate polygons and rotated to a chosen time slice with the relevant plates

Plate Wizard | Robertson 201310

Baffin Bay – Data appended and deformed

Labrador Sea –

Data not appended and deformed

Extensional deformation in Baffin Bay – Appended and DEFORMABLY MODELLED

Vs

Extensional deformation in Labrador Sea - Appended and RIGIDLY MODELLED

Time slice – 84 Ma

Time slice – 0 Ma

Plate Wizard as a base for Palaeogeographic Mapping

Plate Wizard | Robertson 201311

MERLIN+: Detailed Global Palaeogeography

Palaeo-Earth systems

(climate and tides)

Summary of updates for Plate Wizard 4

Plate Wizard 4 rigid model compatibility with PaleoGIS

Upper Palaeozoic rigid model - data constrained to the Silurian (440 Ma) - End 2013

Update to the rigid South East Asia model in collaboration with Robert Hall (SEARG, Royal Holloway, University of London) - End 2013

Continued development and enhancement of the rigid and deformable plate model incorporating work from detailed regional studies

Plate Wizard | Robertson 201312