Tectonics Plates - a scientific theory describing the large-scale movement of seven or eight large plates (depending on how they are determined) and a larger number of smaller plates of the solid shell of our planet, that is, lithosphere. The relative movement of the plates is usually zero to 100 millimeters per year: since the tectonic processes began on Earth between 3.3 and 3.5 billion years ago, this speed was enough to move entire continents.
The Geophysician team from China, Australia and Canada created one of the most complete models of continuous movement of tectonic plates starting from a billion years ago. And such an impressive period of time was fitted on a 40-second video. The study itself is published in the magazine Earth-Science Reviews.
"Our planet is unique in that it has a life. But this is possible only because geological processes, such as slab tectonics, provide a planetary life support system. Our team has created a completely new model of the evolution of the Earth for the last billion years, "said Professor Ditmar Müller from Sydney University.
Over the past four years, the authors of the study collected data on the relative movements of the plates on all continents and tectonic history for remote regions. The resulting animated reconstruction shows how the oceans were revealed and narrowed, the continents diverged and periodically recombined, connected and formed supercontinents.
"Through a human scale, everything moves in centimeters per year, but, as we see, the continents were everywhere in time. Such a place as Antarctica, which we see today as a cold and non-smart region, in fact, once perfect for recreation at the Equator, "Sydney University added Sydney Sydney.
The new model will allow scientists to better understand how the climate and ocean flows have changed, as components from the bowels helped to launch evolution. As a result, the researchers celebrate, their work, perhaps, will explain why there is life on our planet.
"Of course, this reconstruction is intended to reflect the main aspects of global tectonics for the last billion years, therefore, there are no many details in it that could be included for individual regions," the authors of the study were summed up.
Source: Naked Science