Plate reconstruction – Page 2 – Accessible Science Graphics Collection

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Plate reconstruction is the study of how the Earth’s tectonic plates have moved and interacted over geological time. This collection of clear, accessible science graphics makes it easier to understand plate reconstruction and teach the shifting positions of continents and oceans through Millions of years. From the breakup of supercontinents to the opening of ocean basins, these visuals help students, educators, and enthusiasts explore Earth’s dynamic history, providing an engaging way to visualise past plate movements and the processes that have shaped our planet’s surface.

Schematic tectonic reconstruction of the Aleutian SZI event (modified from Domeier et al., 2017). The collision of the Olutorsky arc with the trench of the south-dipping subduction of the Eurasia plate below the Pacific Plate is suggested to have caused a flip in subduction polarity, initiating the new Aleutian subduction zone. Shown are the new subduction zone (pink line), other active (solid purple lines) and inactive (dashed purple lines) subduction zones, spreading ridges (solid red lines), and transform faults (red dashed lines).

Aleutian subduction zone initiation

The Aleutian subduction zone initiation event formed today’s Aleutian trench, occurred at around 53 Ma through subduction polarity reversal.

Schematic tectonic reconstruction of the Tonga-Kermadec SZI event (modified from Whattam et al., 2008). The collision of the Papua New Guinea continental block with the Loyalty-Three Kings trench is suggested to have caused a flip in subduction polarity, initiating the new Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone, possibly exploiting a weakness due to the presence of an old subduction zone. Shown are the new subduction zone (pink line), other active (solid purple lines) and inactive (dashed purple lines) subduction zones, and spreading ridges (solid red lines).

Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone initiation

The Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone initiated likely due to a subduction-polarity reversal at around 50 Ma.

Schematic tectonic reconstruction of the Sunda-Java SZI event (modified from Hall, 2012). Subduction of the Indo-Australian plate at the Sundaland margin has been episodically ongoing since >100 Ma. The most recent episode occurred at ca. 40–60 Ma and it initiated the new Sunda-Java subduction zone. Shown are the new subduction zone (pink line), other active (solid purple lines) and inactive (dashed purple lines) subduction zones, spreading ridges (solid red lines), and transform faults (red dashed lines).

Sunda-Java subduction zone initiation

The Sunda-Java SZI event might have re-started subduction at the southern margin of Sundaland at around 60–40 Ma.

Schematic tectonic reconstruction of the Philippine SZI event (modified from Hall, 1996 and Wu et al., 2016). The collision of the Palawan continental block with the trench of the east-dipping subduction of the Eurasia plate below the Philippine Sea Plate is suggested to have caused a flip in subduction polarity, initiating the new Philippine subduction zone. Shown are the new subduction zone (pink line) and other active (solid purple lines) and inactive (dashed purple lines) subduction zones.

Philippine subduction zone initiation

The present-day Philippine subduction zone is thought to have started at about 9 Ma via a subduction polarity flip.

Schematic tectonic reconstruction of the Cascadia SZI event (modified from Stern and Dumitru et al., 2019 and Wells et al., 2014). A trench jump occurred due to the accretion of the Siletzia and Yakutat large igneous province (LIP) formed by the Yellowstone plume, initiating the new Cascadia subduction zone. Shown are the new subduction zone (pink line), other active (solid purple lines) and inactive (dashed purple lines) subduction zones, and spreading ridges (solid red lines).

Cascadia subduction zone initiation

The Cascadia subduction zone initiation event formed at around 53–43 Ma likely as an episodic subduction via a trench jump after the large igneous province (LIP) Siletzia accreted.

Schematic tectonic reconstruction of the Ryukyu SZI event (modified from Faccenna et al., 2018). A slab break-off event caused a pause in arc activity. Subduction of the Philippine Sea plate started again along the same margin, initiating the new Ryukyu subduction zone. Shown are the new subduction zone (pink line), other active (solid purple lines) and inactive (dashed purple lines) subduction zones, and spreading ridges (solid red lines).

Ryukyu subduction zone initiation

The Ryukyu SZI event reinitiated subduction of the Philippine Sea plate below the Eurasian plate through episodic subduction at around 6 Ma.

Schematic tectonic reconstruction of the South Sandwich SZI event (modified from Dalziel et al., 2013b). The arrival of the Chile ridge at the South America trench might have triggered a flip in subduction polarity, but the South Sandwich subduction zone is suggested to have initiated as a newly destructive boundary. Shown are the new subduction zone (pink line), other active subduction zones (solid purple lines), spreading ridges (solid red lines), and transform faults (red dashed lines).

South Sandwich subduction zone initiation

The South Sandwich SZI event is estimated to have occurred between 39 and 29 Ma as a new destructive boundary.

Schematic tectonic reconstruction of the Anatolia SZI event (modified from van Hinsbergen et al., 2019a,b). Shown are the new subduction zone (pink line), other active subduction zones (solid purple lines), and transform faults (red dashed lines).

Anatolia subduction zone initiation

The Anatolia subduction zone (or ‘Anatolian Neotethys’) started at around 104 Ma as a consequence of fracture zone inversion.

Schematic tectonic reconstruction of the Anatolia SZI event (modified from van Hinsbergen et al., 2019a,b). Shown are the new subduction zone (pink line), other active subduction zones (solid purple lines), and transform faults (red dashed lines).

Oman subduction zone initiation

The Oman subduction zone, together with the Anatolian subduction zone, started at around 104 Ma as a consequence of fracture zone inversion.

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