Plate Tectonics Models
Edit on GitHubThis web page contains a list of available plate tectonics reconstruction models in GPlates Web Service.
By default, all models comprise a minimum of a rotation model and a set of static polygons. The availability of other components varies between different models. Models also vary in the range of geological time that they cover.
More information about the EarthByte global and regional plate motion models can be found at this web page. Not all models in the web page have been included in this web service. Contact EarthByte group to request adding new models into GPlates Web Service.
CAO2024
Earth’s tectonic and plate boundary evolution over 1.8 billion years.
Layers: StaticPolygons, Coastlines, ContinentalPolygons, Topologies, COBs
Timespan: [0 - 1800 Ma]
Reference:
Cao, X., Collins, A.S., Pisarevsky, S., Flament, N., Li, S., Hasterok, D. and Müller, R.D., 2024. Earth’s tectonic and plate boundary evolution over 1.8 billion years. Geoscience Frontiers, v.15, n. 2, p.101922, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2024.101922.
ALFONSO2024
This plate model is based on Clennett et al. (2020). The Clennett et al. (2020) model is an extension of the global model of Müller et al. (2019), with a focus on producing a more detailed tectonic reconstruction of the North American Cordillera. Further minor modifications are made to the model for a paper by Alfonso et al. (2024), using the GPlates software .
Layers: StaticPolygons, Coastlines, Isochrons, Topologies, Terranes
Timespan: [0 - 170 Ma]
Reference:
Christopher P. Alfonso, R. Dietmar Müller, Ben Mather, Michele Anthony; Spatio-temporal copper prospectivity in the American Cordillera predicted by positive-unlabeled machine learning. GSA Bulletin 2024; doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B37614.1
MULLER2022
This model is based on MERDITH2021 for relative plate motions but uses a mantle reference frame that orients the plates relative to the mantle using a set of geodynamic rules to exclude geodynamically unreasonable plate motions. The difference between the paleomagnetic and mantle reference frames grows cumulatively back in time – hence the two reconstructions (MERDITH2021 versus MULLER2022) diverge progressively in the Paleozoic and Proterozoic both in terms of paleolatitude and paleolongitude.
Layers: StaticPolygons, Coastlines, ContinentalPolygons, Topologies, COBs, Cratons
Timespan: [0 - 1000 Ma]
Reference:
Müller, R. D., Flament, N., Cannon, J., Tetley, M. G., Williams, S. E., Cao, X., Bodur, Ö. F., Zahirovic, S., and Merdith, A.: A tectonic-rules-based mantle reference frame since 1 billion years ago – implications for supercontinent cycles and plate–mantle system evolution, Solid Earth, 13, 1127–1159, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1127-2022, 2022.
ZAHIROVIC2022
Subduction kinematics and carbonate platform interactions.
Layers: StaticPolygons, Coastlines, ContinentalPolygons, Topologies
Timespan: [0 - 410 Ma]
Reference:
Zahirovic, S., Eleish, A., Doss, S., Pall, J., Cannon, J., Pistone, M., Tetley, M. G., Young, A., & Fox, P. (2022). Subduction kinematics and carbonate platform interactions. Geoscience Data Journal, 9(2), p.371-383, https://doi.org/10.1002/gdj3.146.
Notes:
This is the default model if you do not specify the reconstruction model in your HTTP request.
MERDITH2021
This plate model for the last 1000 Ma is based on a paleomagnetic reference frame. In this model the longitudinal positions of the plates are unconstrained, due to the radial symmetry of the Earth's magnetic field. It is broadly based on a modified combination of MULLER2016 for the last 230 Ma, the MATTHEWS2016_pmag_ref model for 250-410 Ma and a newly constructed model for earlier times.
Layers: StaticPolygons, Coastlines, ContinentalPolygons, Topologies, Cratons
Timespan: [0 - 1000 Ma]
Reference:
Andrew S. Merdith, Simon E. Williams, Alan S. Collins, Michael G. Tetley, Jacob A. Mulder, Morgan L. Blades, Alexander Young, Sheree E. Armistead, John Cannon, Sabin Zahirovic, R. Dietmar Müller, (2021). Extending full-plate tectonic models into deep time: Linking the Neoproterozoic and the Phanerozoic, Earth-Science Reviews, Volume 214, 2021, 103477, ISSN 0012-8252, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103477.
CLENNETT2020
Quantitative Tomotectonic Plate Reconstruction of Western North America and the Eastern Pacific Basin.
Layers: StaticPolygons, Coastlines, Topologies, Terranes
Timespan: [0 - 170 Ma]
Reference:
Clennett, E., Sigloch, K., Mihalynuk, M. G., Seton, M., Hosseini, K., Mohammadzaheri, A., Johnston, S.T., & Müller, R.D. (2020). A Quantitative Tomotectonic Plate Reconstruction of Western North America and the Eastern Pacific Basin, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GC009117
MULLER2019
This plate model for the last 250 Ma is based on a mantle reference frame, ie it orients the plates relative to the mantle using a set of geodynamic rules to exclude geodynamically unreasonable plate motions, which typically result from models based on paleomagnetic data. The model also includes continental deformation both along major rift systems and collisional plate boundary zones.
Layers: Coastlines, StaticPolygons, ContinentalPolygons, Topologies, COBs, Hotspots, SeafloorFabric, Whittaker2015LIPs, Johansson2018LIPs
Timespan: [0 - 250 Ma]
Reference:
Müller, R. D., Zahirovic, S., Williams, S. E., Cannon, J., Seton, M., Bower, D. J., Tetley, M. G., Heine, C., Le Breton, E., Liu, S., Russell, S. H. J., Yang, T., Leonard, J., and Gurnis, M. (2019), A global plate model including lithospheric deformation along major rifts and orogens since the Triassic. Tectonics, vol. 38, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018TC005462.
MULLER2016
This model represents an update of the SETON2012 model, both in terms of relative and absolute plate motions. The absolute reference used is based on the same hotspot model for the last 100 Ma as used in SETON2012, and a true-polar wander corrected paleomagnetic model for 230 to 100 Ma, with an added 10 deg longitudinal correction for the time period from 100-230 Ma in an attempt to minimise geodynamically unreasonable longitudinal plate motions, resulting in a modified mantle reference frame.
Layers: Coastlines, StaticPolygons, Topologies, COBs
Timespan: [0 - 230 Ma]
Reference:
Müller, R.D., Seton, M., Zahirovic, S., Williams, S.E., Matthews, K.J., Wright, N.M., Shephard, G.E., Maloney, K.T., Barnett-Moore, N., Hosseinpour, M., Bower, D.J., Cannon, J., 2016, Ocean basin evolution and global-scale plate reorganization events since Pangea breakup: Annual Reviews of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Vol 44, 107-138
MATTHEWS2016_mantle_ref
This model is identical to MATTHEWS2016_pmag_ref in terms of relative plate models but uses a true polar wander corrected paleomagnetic model, viewed as a proxy for a mantle reference frame model.
Layers: Coastlines, StaticPolygons, ContinentalPolygons, Topologies
Timespan: [0 - 410 Ma]
Reference:
Matthews, K.J., Maloney, K.T., Zahirovic, S., Williams, S.E., Seton, M., and Müller, R.D. 2016, Global plate boundary evolution and kinematics since the late Paleozoic : Global and Planetary Change, Vol 146, 226-250.
MATTHEWS2016_pmag_ref
This plate model represents the first continuous late Paleozoic to present-day global plate model with evolving plate boundaries, building on and extending two previously published models for the late Paleozoic (410–250 Ma) (Domeier and Torsvik, 2014 ) and the MULLER2016 model Mesozoic-Cenozoic (230–0 Ma). The model was designed for continuity during the 250–230 Ma transition period between the two models, used an updated absolute reference frame of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic model and added a new Paleozoic reconstruction for the Baltica-derived Alexander Terrane, now accreted to western North America.
Layers: Coastlines, StaticPolygons, ContinentalPolygons, Topologies
Timespan: [0 - 410 Ma]
Reference:
Matthews, K.J., Maloney, K.T., Zahirovic, S., Williams, S.E., Seton, M., and Müller, R.D. 2016, Global plate boundary evolution and kinematics since the late Paleozoic : Global and Planetary Change, Vol 146, 226-250.
SETON2012
This model represents the first global plate model with topological plate boundaries. It is based on a hybrid reference frame hybrid absolute reference frame, based on a moving hotspot model for the last 100 Ma, and a true-polar wander corrected paleomagnetic model for 200 to 100 Ma. This combination of absolute reference frames is viewed as a proxy for a mantle reference frame model.
Layers: Coastlines，StaticPolygons，ContinentalPolygons, Topologies, COBs
Timespan: [0 - 200 Ma]
Reference:
Seton, M., Müller, R., Zahirovic, S., Gaina, C., Torsvik, T., Shephard, G., Talsma, A., Gurnis, M., Turner, M., Maus, S., and Chandler, M., 2012, Global continental and ocean basin reconstructions since 200 Ma: Earth-Science Reviews, v. 113, no. 3-4, p. 212-270.
GOLONKA
Layers: Coastlines, StaticPolygons
Timespan: [0 - 550 Ma]
Reference:
Wright, N., Zahirovic, S., Müller, R. D., and Seton, M. Towards community-driven paleogeographic reconstructions: integrating open-access paleogeographic and paleobiology data with plate tectonics, Biogeosciences, 10, 1529-1541, doi:10.5194/bg-10-1529-2013, 2013.
Notes:
The GOLONKA model currently does not work for any present-day ocean points.
PALEOMAP
Scotese (2016) PALEOMAP reconstructions
Layers: Coastlines, StaticPolygons
Timespan: [0 - 1100 Ma]
Reference:
Scotese, C.R., 2016. PALEOMAP PaleoAtlas for GPlates and the PaleoData Plotter Program, PALEOMAP Project.
TorsvikCocks2017
Torsvik and Cocks (2017) reconstructions
Layers: Coastlines, StaticPolygons
Timespan: [0 - 540 Ma]
Reference:
This reconstruction was published on http://www.earthdynamics.org/earthmodel/page2.html and described in Torsvik & Cocks 2017: Earth History and Palaeogeography. Cambridge University Press, 317 pp.
Notes:
For a default mantle frame reconstruction, the default anchored Plate ID of 0 is used https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/reconstruct_points/?points=95,54,142,-33&time=140&model=TorsvikCocks2017
To use a paleomagnetic frame (for any climatically-sensistive analysis), set 1 as the anchored Plate ID https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/reconstruct_points/?points=95,54,142,-33&time=140&model=TorsvikCocks2017&anchor_plate_id=1
RODINIA
Rodinia model from Precambrian Research
Layers: Coastlines, StaticPolygons
Timespan: [540 - 1100 Ma]
Reference:
Li, Z.X., Evans, D.A. and Halverson, G.P., 2013. Neoproterozoic glaciations in a revised global palaeogeography from the breakup of Rodinia to the assembly of Gondwanaland. Sedimentary Geology, 294, pp.219-232.
Notes:
The RODINIA model starts at 540 Ma.