Comparison of Plate Tectonic Models for the North and Central Atlantic (Paleoceanographic Mapping Project Progress Report No. 20-0487)

Numerous models describing the tectonic evolution of the North and Central Atlantic Ocean have been proposed. However, it is often difficult to quickly evaluate how these models differ. In this study, we have modified a computer program, originally written by Philippe Patriat that graphically displa...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Heubeck, Christoph E., Royer, Jean-Yves
Format: Report
Language:English
Published: Institute for Geophysics 1987
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/2152/67596
https://doi.org/10.15781/T28S4K73M
Description
Summary:Numerous models describing the tectonic evolution of the North and Central Atlantic Ocean have been proposed. However, it is often difficult to quickly evaluate how these models differ. In this study, we have modified a computer program, originally written by Philippe Patriat that graphically displays spreading rates and spreading directions for any pair of plates. Using this program we have analyzed the plate tectonic models proposed by Pitman and Talwani (1972), Sclater et al. (1977), Olivet et al. (1984), Savostin et al. (1986), Klitgord and Schouten (1986), and Srivastava and Tapscott (1986). In addition, we have included the unpublished models of Francheteau (1970), Phillips and Tapscott (1981 ), Molnar and Stork (1983), Rowley et al. (1985), Gahagan et al. ( 1987), and Mueller (1987). UT Institute for Geophysics Paleoceanographic Mapping Project (POMP) Institute for Geophysics