This model is imported from the EarthByte model, that is the default model included in GPlates. The original model can be downloaded from the EarthByte page.
The rotations are defined from 400 million years (up to 410 for the plate motion model) to today, in time stages of 5 million years.
The model is available in three resolutions:
e360 (360 pixels in the equatorial ring),
e180,
and e120.
For reference,
Pixel IDs are stored as pixel-ids-xxx.tab,
in which xxx is used to indicate the resolution.
All the files are prefixed as earthbyte-*
usually followed by the pixelation resolution,
the size of time step,
and the kind of file.
It is based on the continental polygons
from the original EarthByte model,
extended with the volcanic provinces from Johansson et al. (2018).
It is stored in the file earthbyte-pixels-xxx.tab
in which xxx is used to indicate the resolution.
The plate motion model (or rotation model) was the model compiled by the EarthByte group, and the main references are: Torsvik et al. (2019), Young et al. (2019), Müller et al. (2019), Cao et al. (2022). See that papers for additional references of the different rotations.
The model is stored in the file earthbyte-motion-xxx-5.tab,
in which xxx is the pixel resolution,
and 5 is the time resolution (in million years).
The 'ocean plateau' layers are just the tectonic features pixelated at each time. Other layers were prepared from the paleogeography model of Cao et al. (2017), that can be found at EarthByte page. Layers at present time are derived from NaturalEarth and NaturalEarth III. The landscape model uses the following convention:
| Key | Environment |
|---|---|
| 1 | oceanic plateaus |
| 2 | continental shelf |
| 3 | lowlands |
| 4 | highlands |
| 5 | ice sheets |
The model is stored in the file earthbyte-landscape-cao-xxx-5.tab,
in which xxx is the pixel resolution,
and 5 is the time resolution (in million years).
A color key,
which is compatible with color-blindness,
and can be used with plates timepix map command
is stored in the file earthbyte-landscape-cao-key.tab.
This model is the direct process of the Cao et al. (2017), Torsvik et al. (2019), Young et al. (2019), Müller et al. (2019), and Cao et al. (2022) models. As such, the original publications should be cited when the model is used. Relevant papers are given in this file and provided as bibTeX.
It is not required to cite this repository, but if you do not include the model in the supplementary material of your publication, it might be a good idea to link this repository and help others to replicate or re-use your analysis.
As the models are a product of a pixelation of vectorial models, it is possible that some pixels will not be defined particularly in the boundaries of plates. Depending on the usage given to the models, this problems will be only annoying (for example, a deep ocean pixel in the middle of a continent), or it can be critical (if the feature of interest is near this absent pixels). So be careful when using the models.
Cao, W. et al. (2017) Improving global paleogeography since the late Paleozoic using paleobiology. Biogeosciences, 14, 5425-5439. DOI: 10.5194/bg-14-5425-2017.
Cao, X. et al. (2022). A deforming plate tectonic model of the South China Block since the Jurassic. Gondwana Research, 102, 3-16. DOI: 10.1016/j.gr.2020.11.010.
Johansson, L., Zahirovic, S., & Müller, R. D. (2018). The interplay between the eruption and weathering of large igneous provinces and the deep‐time carbon cycle. Geophysical Research Letters, 45, 5380-5389. DOI: 10.1029/2017GL076691.
Müller, R. D. et al. (2019). A global plate model including lithospheric deformation along major rifts and orogens since the Triassic. Tectonics, 38, 1884-1907. DOI: 10.1029/2018TC005462.
Torsvik, T. H. et al. (2019). Pacific‐Panthalassic reconstructions: Overview, errata and the way forward. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 20, 3659-3689. DOI: 10.1029/2019GC008402.
Young, A. et al. (2019). Global kinematics of tectonic plates and subduction zones since the late Paleozoic Era. Geoscience Frontiers, 10, 989-1013. DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2018.05.011.