New model of plate tectonics with dark boundary regions. Credit: Dr Derek Hasrock, University of Adelaide
New models that show how the continents are held together provide new insights into Earth’s history and help better understand natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanoes.
“We reviewed current knowledge of the formation of plate boundary zones and the previous erection of continental crust,” said Dr Derek Hasrock, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Adelaide, who led the team that produced the new models.
“Several pieces of continents were put together at once, much like a jigsaw puzzle, but each time the jigsaw puzzle is completed, it is cut and rearranged to produce a new picture. Our study sheds light on the different components so that geologists can reconstruct previous images.
“We found that plate boundary regions make up approximately 16% of the Earth’s crust and an even higher proportion, 27%, of the continents.”
“Our new model of plate tectonics better explains the spatial distribution of 90% of earthquakes and 80% of volcanoes over the past 2 million years, while current models capture only 65% of earthquakes.”
– Dr Derek Hasrock, Lecturer, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Adelaide
https://www.youtube.com/watch؟v=BYdX6_Y-S5g
New models show the structure of the Earth. Credit: Dr Derek Hasrock, University of Adelaide
The team produced three new geological models: a plate model, a county model, and an origin formation model.
Dr Hasrock said: “There are 26 mountain types – the process of mountain formation – that have left their mark on the current architecture of the crust. Many, but not all, of them are related to the formation of supercontinents.
“Our work allows us to update the maps of plate tectonics and the formation of continents found in textbooks. These plate models, compiled from global topographic and seismic models, have not been updated since 2003.
The new plate style includes several new delicate plates, including the Macquarie plate of southern Tasmania and the Capricorn plate that separates the Indian and Australian plates.
“To further enrich the model, we added more precise information about the boundaries of the deformation regions: previous models showed them as discrete regions rather than broad regions,” Dr. Hasrock said.
“The greatest changes in the model of painting have occurred in western North America, which often has boundaries with painted Pacific painting such as the faults of San Andreas and Queen Charlotte. But the newly demarcated border is much wider, about 1,500 km, than the narrow area previously drawn.
The other big change is in Central Asia. The new model now includes all areas of deformation north of India as the plate makes its way into Eurasia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch؟v=N–HPPmcG-o
A story told by continents. Credit: Dr Derek Hasrock, University of Adelaide
Published in the magazine geology commentsThe team’s work provides a more accurate representation of Earth’s structure and has other important applications.
“Our new model of plate tectonics better explains the spatial distribution of 90% of earthquakes and 80% of volcanoes over the past 2 million years, while current models capture only 65% of earthquakes,” Dr. Hasrock said.
“The plate model can be used to improve geographic risk models; The phylogeny model helps to understand geodynamic systems and better formulate the evolution of the Earth, and the province model can be used to improve mineral exploration.
Reference: “New Maps of the Global Geoparks and Tectonic Plates” by Derek Hasterock, Jacqueline A. Halpin, and Alan S. Collins, Martin Hand, Kornh Kramer, Matthew Gard, and Stijn Glory, May 31, 2022, Available here. geology comments.
DOI: 10.1016 / j.earscirev.2022.104069
The work involved researchers from the universities of Adelaide, Tasmania, Nevada Reno and Geoscience Australia.