Plate reconstruction – Page 3 – 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 New Hebrides-New Britain SZI event (modified from Schellart et al., 2006 and Holm et al., 2016). The collision of the Ontong Java plateau with the trench of the Melanesian subduction zone is suggested to have caused a flip in subduction polarity, initiating the New Hebrides-New Britain subduction zone. Shown are the new subduction zone (pink line) and other active (solid purple lines) and inactive (dashed purple lines) subduction zones.

New Hebrides-New Britain subduction zone initiation

The New Hebrides-New Britain (NHNB) SZI event evolved into the New Hebrides, San Cristobal, and New Britain trenches by subduction polarity reversal at around 10 Ma.

Schematic tectonic reconstruction of the Lesser Antilles SZI event (modified from van Benthem et al., 2013 and Boschman et al., 2014). Subduction of the North and South America plates beneath the Caribbean plate was probably already active earlier on. At 58-39 Ma, subduction jumped eastwards, creating the new Lesser Antilles SZ. Shown are the new subduction zone (pink line), other active (solid purple lines) and inactive (dashed purple lines) subduction zones, and transform faults (red dashed lines).

Lesser Antilles subduction zone initiation

The Lesser Antilles SZI event that formed the present-day Lesser Antilles subduction zone likely occurred between 59–38 Ma and might be an episodic event.

Schematic tectonic reconstruction of the Izu-Bonin-Mariana SZI event (modified from Lallemand, 2016). A plate reorganisation, possibly due to the arrival of the Izanagi ridge at the trench, is suggested to trigger SZI along a pre-existing transform fault in the south, initiating the Izu-Bonin-Mariana subduction zone. The orange circle shows the location of the Oki-Daito plume. 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).

Izu-Bonin-Mariana subduction zone initiation

The onset of the Izu-Bonin-Mariana (IBM) subduction zone likely occurred at around 52 Ma likely along a pre-existing fracture zone after a plate reorganisation.

Global paleogeography with zoomed in figures showing the evolution of oceanic gateways active during the Cenozoic time.

Cenozoic paleogeography (animation)

Global paleogeography with zoomed in figures showing the evolution of oceanic gateways active during the Cenozoic time.

Earth’s reconstructed global surface topography at the beginning of the Cenozoic era (65 Million years ago).

Paleo surface topography

Earth’s reconstructed global surface topography from the beginning of the Cenozoic era (66 Million years ago) until today.

Animations of the Earth’s global surface topography reconstructed through the Cenozoic time (66 – 0 Ma).

Paleo surface topography (animated)

Animations of the Earth’s global surface topography reconstructed through the Cenozoic time (66 - 0 Ma).

Read more about the article Paleo surface topography (globe animation)

Paleo surface topography (globe animation)

Animation of the Earth’s surface topography through the Cenozoic time (66 - 0 Ma) on the globe.

Global Cenozoic paleogeography, and the deep sea benthic foraminifera oxygen isotope curve.

Global Cenozoic paleogeography

Global Cenozoic paleogeography, and the deep sea benthic foraminifera oxygen isotope curve.

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