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Plate motions on a sphere
Euler’s Theorem, 1776 (“Oiler”)
The motion of a rigid body (e.g.a plate) across the surface of asphere can be described as arotation about some pole thatpasses through the center ofthe sphere.
Plates cannot be translated,only rotated.
Also, any combinations ofrotations can be described assome equivalent singlerotation.
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Two versions of Euler poles:
RELATIVE PLATE VELOCITIES are described by “instantaneous poles” or “Euler vectors” or “angular velocity vectors”
For each plate pair, need(a) pole position and (b) angular rate(equivalent to vector direction {thru center of earth} and vector length)
Example: present relative motion of Pacific plate past North America is .78°/m.y. about a pole at 49°N, 78°W
RELATIVE PLATE DISPLACEMENTS are described by “finite poles” or “Euler poles”
For each plate pair need:(a) pole position and (b) angle of displacement
( it is NOT a vector)
Example: to reconstruct the location of North America with respect toEurope at anomaly 24 we rotate it 13° about a pole at 68°N, 147°W
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1) Transform faults should form smallcircles about the rotation pole position
2) Perpendiculars to transform faultsshould all intersect at the pole
Ex. 2: South Atlantic(Africa - So. Amer.)
Ex. 1: Gulf of CA,San Andreas, Fair-weather Faults(Pac – North Am.)
We use a) spreading rates and b) transform fault azimuths (or earthquake slipvectors) to determine Euler vectors
Present day plate motions (velocities)
Morgan (1968)
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Rates of relative motionshould vary as sine ofangular distance fromthe pole.
Uncertainties: Usually data are clumped in asmallish region in one general direction from apoles so that :
Transform crossing errors form a long ellipse
Rate errors form a larger, wide ellipse
Combination actually gives a long ellipse, +/- 5or 10°, elongated toward data region.
T.F.
Rates
Ex.: SoutheastIndian Ridge
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1) Transform faultsshould be horizontallines
2) Young magneticanomalies should beevenly separated
One way to check fit: Plot data on an “Oblique Mercator” projection usingthe Euler pole instead of the North pole.
Ex.: Pacific-Antarctic ridge
Molnar et al. (1975)
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Cylinderaligned withspin axis
Shift cylinderto Euler pole
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Euler vectors can be added (vector addition) to find others.
For example: add sea floorspreading in North and CentralAtlantic to find motion acrossMediterranean
Addition of angular velocityvectors for Eurasia-NorthAmerica and Africa-North-America to find Eurasia-Africamotion
The vectors, centered at the center ofthe earth, show locations of poles ofrotation and their anti-poles. Twovectors define a plane through the earth.In this plane a vector triangle can beconstructed to find the third vector
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Gravity
XEuler polefor Afr-Eurmotion
Azorestriplejunction
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Instantaneous = 3 Ma
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Classic “highly cited” paper;everybody compares theirlocal fault zone to thisglobal model
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Boundary betweenNoAmer and EurAsiaruns across Arctic ocean,into Siberia, and beneathEuler pole
Arrows = angular ratesx 20 Million years
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MORVELDeMets et al. (2010)
Note: severaldiffuse plateboundaries
earthquakesdefine zones ofintraplatecrustaldeformation
Ex.: Africa =Nubia +Somalia +Lwandle plates
25 plates
Blue platesnot included
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Updated version:
MORVEL
DeMets et al. (2010)
25 plates
Instantaneous = .78 Ma on intermediate and fastspreading ridges
But still use Anom 2A(3 Ma) on slow ridges
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(Croon et al., 2008)
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“The global plate circuit”
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Find overlap of“reconstructed”oceanic crustonto continentalSouthernCalifornia
Compare toAtwater 1970
Power ofglobal platecircuit:
Calculate Pac-Nam motionback to 20 Mausing globalcircuit
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Push (collapse)North Americaback to east tomake room foroceanic crust
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Gravity
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There are two setsof stage poles: onefor each plate
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