Interregional geological maps hold important information for geodynamic models. Here, we use such maps to visualize major conformable and unconformable contacts at interregional scales and at the level of geologic series from the Upper Jurassic onward across North and South America, Europe, Africa and Australia. We extract hiatus information from these paleogeological maps, which we plot in a paleogeographical reference frame to link the maps to the plate and plume modes of mantle convection. We assume that interregional patterns of hiatus surfaces are proxy records of continent-scale mantle-induced vertical motion of the lithosphere. We find significant differences in the distribution of hiatus across and between continents at the timescale of geologic series, that is ten to a few tens of millions of years (Myrs). This is smaller than the mantle transit time, which, as the timescale of convection, is about 100–200 Myrs. Our results imply that different timescales for convection and topography in convective support must be an integral component of time-dependent geodynamic Earth models, consistent with the presence of a weaker upper mantle relative to the lower mantle. Additional geological constraints together with interregional geological maps at the resolution of stages (1–2 Myrs), are needed to assist in future geodynamic interpretations of interregional geologic hiatus.
In the published paper, the conformable/unconformable African dataset was switched in two time windows, which affected the final results for the Base of Paleocene, Base of Upper Cretaceous and Base of Lower Cretaceous. Thus figures 4, 6, 7 and 8, and their respective description were incorrect. This document presents the revised figures and text changes in the results and discussion sections affected by the update.
Earth's surface moves in response to a combination of tectonic forces from the thermally convective mantle and/or plate boundary forces. The former arise from the time-evolving mantle buoyancy field (e.g., , while the latter arise from the brittle interaction between two or more tectonic plates (e.g.,
<p>It is well accepted that convection in the Earth&#8217;s mantle provides the torques to drive vertical and horizontal plate motions. Yet the precise nature of the interaction between flow and plates remains incomplete, because the strength of plates allows them to integrate over a presumably complex flow field in the mantle beneath &#8211; making it difficult to get a glimpse even on the recent Cenozoic mantle flow. Over the past years a pressure driven, so-called Poiseuille, flow model for upper mantle flux in the asthenosphere has gained increasing geodynamic attention &#8211; for a number of fluid dynamic arguments. This elegantly simple model makes a powerful testable prediction: Poiseuille flow induce plate motion changes should coincide with regional scale mantle convection induced elevation changes.</p>
<p>Here I will focus on Australia, which undergoes a profound directional change from westward to northward motion in the early Cenozoic. At the same time there is evidence for early Cenozoic high dynamic topography in the western part of the continent. Thus, suggesting a high-pressure source in the upper mantle to the west of Australia. Altogether these geological and geophysical observations indicate that the separation of Australia from Antarctica was largely driven by plume push torque from the Kerguelen plume.</p>
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