GLOBAL PLATE TECTONICS AND GEODYNAMICS

CENTER FOR EARTH EVOLUTION AND DYNAMICS UNIVERSITY OF OSLO

DIRECTOR: TROND H. TORSVIK Assoc. DIRECTOR: CARMEN GAINA

VISION: Develop an Earth model that explains how mantle processes drive plate tectonics and trigger massive volcanism and associated environmental and climate changes throughout Earth history

Mission: To develop a model that links surface volcanism with processes in the deep mantle Main Hypothesis: Mantle plumes from the edges of the stable LLSVPs explain the surface distribution of most hotspots, LIPs and kimberlites.

1.1: Absolute reference frames and links to the deep mantle 1.2: Composition, mineral physics and origin of the LLSVPs 1.3: Plumes from the margins of the LLSVPs: Toward a geodynamic model

PROJECTS: BEYOND PLATE TECTONICS (T.H. Torsvik) –ERC Advanced Grant

Deep Earth: Materials, structure and dynamics

BRISTOL UNIVERSITY UTRECHT UNIVERSITY

Seton et al, 2012; Torsvik et al., 2008

Torsvik et al., 2010

Mission: To explore the link between the lithosphere and the convecting mantle and quantify how palaeogeography and TPW have influenced the climate system. Main Hypothesis: Motion of tectonic plates is closely related to mantle dynamics and the mantle dynamics drives major changes in Earth’s life.

2.1: Supercontinents, Palaeogeography and Biogeography 2.2: Wilson Kickoff: Passive Margins and Break-up 2.3: Continents adrift and oceanic basin formation, true polar wander & climate changes 2.4: Terminal Wilson: Subduction and Collision

Dynamic Earth: Plate motions and Earth history

Torsvik et al., 2012

Torsvik, T.H., Van der Voo, R., Doubrovine, P.V., Burke, K., Steinberger, B., Ashwal, L.D., Trønnes, R., Webb, S.J., Bull, A.L., 2014. Deep mantle structure as a reference frame for move-ments in and on the Earth. Proc. Nat. Ac. Sci. (in review). Bull, A.L., Domeier, M., Torsvik, T.H., 2014. The effect of plate-motion history on the longevity of deep mantle heterogeneities. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. (in review).

PLATE TECTONICS MODEL 0-450 Ma is ROBUST and can explain (and reproduce) LLSVP

GPlates EUROPEAN Node

SEDIMENTARY BASINS

LARGE SCALE GEODYNAMICS

MINERAL RESOURCES

LARGE IGNEOUS PROVINCES

DEVELOP A GPlates LIKE PLATFORM FOR THE EUROPEAN DRIVEN EARTH MODEL

So far we have published most of our global models together with Australian and American colleagues (in both countries data collected with public money has to become freely available)

Seton et al., 2014

CENTER FOR EARTH EVOLUTION AND DYNAMICS UNIVERSITY OF OSLO

GPlates software development MOSTLY financed by Australian, American And Norwegian Research Funding Agencies (ARC-AuSCOPE, NSF, NFR) and minor Industry funding ALTHOUGH many companies are now using this free software (and associated global models)

Check earthcube.org; www.auscope.org.au

FULLY COUPLED EARTH MODEL?

DEVELOP A GPlates LIKE PLATFORM FOR THE EUROPEAN DRIVEN EARTH MODEL