Reconstruction Models

The list below describes the plate tectonic reconstruction models that are available within the GPlates Web Service.

All models by default 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.

The more information about a list of EarthByte global and regional plate motion models can be found at https://www.earthbyte.org/category/resources/data-models/global-regional-plate-motion-models/. Not all models have been included in this web service.

A list of model names can be found at https://gws.gplates.org/list/model_names and you can find the details about these models at https://gws.gplates.org/list/models.

MULLER2022

A tectonic-rules-based mantle reference frame since 1 billion years ago

• Available layers: [Coastlines | Static Plate Polygons]
• Timespan: [0 - 1000 Ma]
• More information:
  • https://se.copernicus.org/articles/13/1127/2022/
  • https://earthbyte.org/webdav/ftp/Data_Collections/Muller_etal_2022_SE/
• Examples:
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/reconstruct_points/?points=95,54,142,-33&time=140&model=MULLER2022
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/coastlines/?time=140&model=MULLER2022
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/static_polygons/?time=140&model=MULLER2022

MERDITH2021

Extending full-plate tectonic models into deep time: Linking the Neoproterozoic and the Phanerozoic

• Available layers: [Coastlines | Static Plate Polygons]
• Timespan: [0 - 1000 Ma]
• More information:
  • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012825220305237
  • http://www.earthbyte.org/webdav/ftp/Data_Collections/Merdith_etal_2021_ESR/
• Examples:
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/reconstruct_points/?points=95,54,142,-33&time=140&model=MERDITH2021
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/coastlines/?time=140&model=MERDITH2021
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/static_polygons/?time=140&model=MERDITH2021

MULLER2019

A Global Plate Model Including Lithospheric Deformation Along Major Rifts and Orogens Since the Triassic

• Available layers: [Coastlines | Static Plate Polygons]
• Timespan: [0 - 250 Ma]
• More information:
  • https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2018TC005462
  • http://www.earthbyte.org/muller-et-al-2019-deforming-plate-reconstruction-and-seafloor-age-grids-tectonics/
• Examples:
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/reconstruct_points/?points=95,54,142,-33&time=140&model=MULLER2019
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/coastlines/?time=140&model=MULLER2019
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/static_polygons/?time=140&model=MULLER2019

MULLER2016

Late Triassic to present-day global model (the Pacific correction has been applied)

• Available layers: [Coastlines | Topological Plate Polygons]
• Timespan: [0 - 230 Ma]
• More information:
  • https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284179323_Ocean_Basin_Evolution_and_Global-Scale_Plate_Reorganization_Events_Since_Pangea_Breakup
  • http://www.earthbyte.org/ocean-basin-evolution-and-global-scale-plate-reorganization-events-since-pangea-breakup/
• Examples:
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/reconstruct_points/?points=95,54,142,-33&time=140&model=MULLER2016
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/coastlines/?time=140&model=MULLER2016
  • https://gws.gplates.org/topology/plate_polygons/?&time=140&model=MULLER2016

MATTHEWS2016_mantle_ref

Late Paleozoic to present-day global model(Mantle Reference Frame and the Pacific correction has been applied.)

• Available layers: [Coastlines | Topological Plate Polygons]
• Timespan: [0 - 410 Ma]
• More information:
  • https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308978755_Global_plate_boundary_evolution_and_kinematics_since_the_late_Paleozoic
  • http://www.earthbyte.org/global-plate-boundary-evolution-and-kinematics-since-the-late-paleozoic/
• Examples:
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/reconstruct_points/?points=95,54,142,-33&time=140&model=MATTHEWS2016_mantle_ref
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/coastlines/?time=140&model=MATTHEWS2016_mantle_ref
  • https://gws.gplates.org/topology/plate_polygons/?time=140&model=MATTHEWS2016_mantle_ref

MATTHEWS2016_pmag_ref

Late Paleozoic to present-day global model(Paleomagnetic Reference Frame)

• Available layers: [Coastlines | Topological Plate Polygons]
• Timespan: [0 - 410 Ma]
• More information:
  • https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308978755_Global_plate_boundary_evolution_and_kinematics_since_the_late_Paleozoic
  • http://www.earthbyte.org/global-plate-boundary-evolution-and-kinematics-since-the-late-paleozoic/
• Examples:
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/reconstruct_points/?points=95,54,142,-33&time=140&model=MATTHEWS2016_pmag_ref
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/coastlines/?time=140&model=MATTHEWS2016_pmag_ref
  • https://gws.gplates.org/topology/plate_polygons/?time=140&model=MATTHEWS2016_pmag_ref

RODINIA2013

Rodinia model from Precambrian Research

• Available layers: [Coastlines]

• Timespan: [530 - 1100 Ma]

• More information:

  • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301926807001635
  • http://www.earthbyte.org/webdav/ftp/Data_Collections/Li_etal_2008_RodiniaModel.zip

• Examples:

  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/reconstruct_points/?points=23,-6,127,-21&time=540&model=RODINIA2013
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/coastlines/?time=540&model=RODINIA2013

  Note: The RODINIA2013 model starts at 540Ma.

SETON2012 (default model)

Post-Pangea model from Earth-Science Reviews

• Available layers: [Coastlines | Topological Plate Polygons]
• Timespan: [0 - 200 Ma]
• More information:
  • https://www.earthbyte.org/global-continental-and-ocean-basin-reconstructions-since-200-ma/
  • https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235762480_Global_continental_and_ocean_basin_reconstructins_since_200_Ma
• Examples:
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/reconstruct_points/?points=95,54,142,-33&time=140&model=SETON2012
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/coastlines/?time=140&model=SETON2012
  • https://gws.gplates.org/topology/plate_polygons/?time=140&model=SETON2012

GOLONKA

• Available layers: [Coastlines]
• Timespan: [0 - 550 Ma]
• More information:
  • https://www.earthbyte.org/towards-community-driven-paleogeographic-reconstructions-integrating-open-access-paleogeographic-and-paleobiology-data-with-plate-tectonics/
• Examples:
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/reconstruct_points/?points=95,54,142,-33&time=140&model=GOLONKA
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/coastlines/?time=140&model=GOLONKA
• Note: The GOLONKA model currently does not work for any present-day ocean point.

PALEOMAP

Scotese (2016) PALEOMAP reconstructions

• Available layers: [Coastlines]
• Timespan: [0 - 1100 Ma]
• More information:
  • https://www.earthbyte.org/paleomap-paleoatlas-for-gplates/
• Examples:
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/reconstruct_points/?points=95,54,142,-33&time=140&model=PALEOMAP
  • https://gws.gplates.org/reconstruct/coastlines/?time=140&model=PALEOMAP