This chapter introduces the concept of plate tectonic reconstructions, describes how to access online plate models, and explains how users can upload and plate models.
Video
What is a Plate Tectonic Reconstruction?
The motions of tectonic plates through geological time can be described and simulated using plate tectonic reconstructions. These reconstructions calculate the likely positions, orientations, and movements of tectonic plates over time based on inferred relative positions between plates derived from geological, geophysical, and paleogeographic data. By attaching data to reconstructed plates, researchers can trace the spatial and temporal evolution of Earth's features through deep time.
Time Machine provides a library of commonly used plate models via online services, allowing users to load them directly without downloading any files. With a stable internet connection, users can select any available model to visualize its plate boundaries and observe tectonic movements by adjusting the time slider. Plate models are fundamental to deep-time geological analysis, and thus play a central role in the Time Machine framework. Once a model is loaded, users can also perform paleo-coordinate calculations based on it.
Users can also upload custom plate models to use within the platform.
Switch to the Plate Models module and click Upload Plate Model.
Enter the model's basic metadata.
Upload the required files, including a static polygon (.gpml) file and a rotation (.rot) file.
Click OK to complete the upload process.
Note: Currently, Time Machine does not support the parsing of fully closed plate models. Only static polygon models in the GPML format are supported at this stage. Fully closed plate models are considered a temporary solution, and we believe a more robust method is needed to represent both the morphological and kinematic evolution of plate boundaries over time.
