Deconstructing plate tectonic reconstructions

Abstract

The evolving mosaic of tectonic plates across the surface of the Earth sets boundary conditions for the evolution of biotic and abiotic processes and helps shape the dynamics of its interior. Reconstructing plate tectonics back through time allows scientists from a range of disciplines (such as palaeobiology, palaeoclimate, geodynamics and seismology) to investigate Earth evolution through these spatiotemporal dimensions. However, the variety and complexity of plate reconstructions can lead to some of their limitations being overlooked. In this Technical Review, we discuss the domain-specific knowledge underpinning modern quantitative plate reconstructions and convey a set of principles on how to use (but not abuse) the software or results. Open-source plate tectonic reconstruction software, like GPlates, has led to a major shift in working practices, handing non-specialists the tools to develop and integrate reconstructions based on their own datasets and expertise. However, there is no 'one-size-fits-all' and users need to understand what data and underlying assumptions go into making different, sometimes competing reconstruction models. It is therefore essential to consider the many ways reconstructions simplify reality when interpreting them to avoid circular reasoning. Although many aspects of deep-time reconstructions remain unresolved, future work on intercomparisons between models and uncertainty quantification is an essential pathway towards next-generation plate reconstructions. Key points• Plate tectonic reconstructions have evolved from simple, rigid reconstructions to ones that incorporate the time-dependent evolution of plates and their boundaries, deformation and/or the history of subduction from seismic tomography.• Reconstructions can be powerfully predictive for a wide range of disciplines beyond tectonics, including palaeobiology, palaeoclimate, geodynamics and seismology.• With the advent of community-driven, open-source software and tools, plate models have become accessible and practicable to the wider geosciences community.• With this accessibility comes a responsibility for specialists and non-specialists alike to understand how these plate models are built, their weaknesses and pitfalls and how they can be used effectively to ensure correct inferences are made.• When reconstructing the tectonic plates of the Earth, there is no 'one-size-fits-all'. Different data types and techniques are more applicable for different time periods, resolutions and purposes, for example, palaeomagnetics for pre-Pangea time periods.• Important areas of ongoing research include the quantification of uncertainty, incorporation of machine learning techniques and linking reconstructions to physics-based deep Earth models and surface (and/or biogeochemical) models.

Mind the uncertainty: Global plate model choice impacts deep‐time palaeobiological studies

“…While palaeomagnetic data can be used to constrain the absolute palaeolatitudinal position of plates and continents, they cannot directly constrain palaeolongitude (Vérard, 2019). Hotspot tracks, which record the motion of a tectonic plate over a mantle plume, enable the determination of palaeolongitude (with respect to the underlying mantle), but owing to the incessant recycling of oceanic crust, well‐resolved hotspot tracks are limited to the last ~130 Ma (Seton et al, 2023). Marine magnetic anomalies enable the determination of relative palaeolongitude back to the time of Pangaea breakup (~200 Ma), but they cannot constrain absolute palaeolongitude.…”

“…A recent review provides an extensive history of the development of plate tectonic modelling, as well as the additional diversity of models available and the working groups in the field (Vérard, 2019). More recently, a technical review was published with the aim of providing a set of principles on how to use—but not abuse—GPMs and their results (Seton et al, 2023). These two reviews provide an excellent summary and guidelines for those getting started with applying GPMs.…”

“…It is important to note that rotation files can report the motion of tectonic elements with respect to one another ('relative' motion) and/or with respect to the Earth's mantle or the planetary spin-axis (so-called 'absolute' motion) (Torsvik, Van der Voo, et al, 2008). Only the latter reference frame (the motion of tectonic elements relative to Earth's spin-axis) is appropriate for the reconstruction of fossil occurrence data as it reports true palaeolatitudes (Seton et al, 2023). Without the use of such reference frames, palaeocoordinates are likely to be meaningless for the study of past geographic distributions.…”

“…Merdith et al, 2021) and deforming plate models (e.g. Gurnis et al, 2018; Müller et al, 2019) has increased the complexity of GPMs by describing—in detail—how plate boundaries and deforming regions have evolved through time (Seton et al, 2023).…”

Global Hydrogen Production During High‐Pressure Serpentinization of Subducting Slabs

“…(e.g., seafloor age, RAP content) into a subduction zone (Figure 2, see Supporting Information for more details). We do this forward propagation using the kinematic history of the ocean basins modeled with full-plate reconstructions (models that explicitly model the kinematic evolution of tectonic plates and plate boundaries, e.g., Seton et al (2023)) to estimate the forward evolution of an ocean plate once it intersects a modeled subduction zone and begins subducting.…”