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GPlates enables both the visualization and the manipulation of plate-tectonic reconstructions and associated data through geological time: Load and save geological, geographic and tectonic feature data. Assign feature data to tectonic plates. Reconstruct feature data to past geological times. Query and edit feature properties and geometries.
This article describes techniques; for a history of the movement of tectonic plates, see Geological history of Earth.. Plate reconstruction is the process of reconstructing the positions of tectonic plates relative to each other (relative motion) or to other reference frames, such as the Earth's magnetic field or groups of hotspots, in the geological past.
Tectonic plate reconstructions [ edit ] Consideration of the Earth system interactions requires complete tectonic reconstruction of all plate motions through time for the studied area, which are often not widely agreed upon, to create a framework within which Earth system interactions can be investigated.
Where the plates meet, their relative motion determines the type of plate boundary (or fault): convergent, divergent, or transform. The relative movement of the plates typically ranges from zero to 10 cm annually. Faults tend to be geologically active, experiencing earthquakes, volcanic activity, mountain-building, and oceanic trench formation.
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As plate reconstructions have improved over the succeeding three decades since Morgan's original contribution, it is become apparent that the hotspots beneath the central North and South Atlantic and Indian Oceans may form one, distinct frame of reference, while those underlying the plates beneath the Pacific Ocean form a separate reference frame.
Between 90-70 million years ago the hotspot was under the African Plate, forming the northern Bathymetrists Seamounts. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge eventually reached the hotspot, resulting 82-55 million years ago in the formation of a second oceanic plateau which was again split by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge to form the Ceara Rise and Sierra Leone Rise .
Richard G. Gordon (born 1953) is an American geophysicist, known for his research on global tectonics, including global plate motions and palaeomagnetism.He is noteworthy for leading two global plate motion projects: NUVEL (Northwestern University Velocity) and MORVEL (Mid-Ocean Ridge Velocity).