/pdf/global-continental-and-ocean-basin-reconstructions-since-200-huopwd2ldv.pdf

Global continental and ocean basin reconstructions since 200 Ma

Geological atlas of western and central Europe

Large igneous provinces and mass extinctions

A correlation of tectonic units of the Alpine-Carpathian-Dinaridic system of orogens, including the substrate of the Pannonian and Transylvanian basins, is presented in the form of a map. Combined with a series of crustal-scale cross sections this correlation of tectonic units yields a clearer picture of the three-dimensional architecture of this system of orogens that owes its considerable complexity to multiple overprinting of earlier by younger deformations.

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The Alpine-Carpathian-Dinaridic orogenic system: correlation and evolution of tectonic units

We have created a digital age grid of the ocean floor with a grid node interval of 6 arc min using a self-consistent set of global isochrons and associated plate reconstruction poles. The age at each grid node was determined by linear interpolation between adjacent isochrons in the direction of spreading. Ages for ocean floor between the oldest identified magnetic anomalies and continental crust were interpolated by estimating the ages of passive continental margin segments from geological data and published plate models. We have constructed an age grid with error estimates for each grid cell as a function of (1) the error of ocean floor ages identified from magnetic anomalies along ship tracks and the age of the corresponding grid cells in our age grid, (2) the distance of a given grid cell to the nearest magnetic anomaly identification, and (3) the gradient of the age grid: i.e., larger errors are associated with high age gradients at fracture zones or other age discontinuities. Future applications of this digital grid include studies of the thermal and elastic structure of the lithosphere, the heat loss of the Earth, ridge-push forces through time, asymmetry of spreading, and providing constraints for seismic tomography and mantle convection models.

Digital isochrons of the world's ocean floor

Plate tectonic evolution of the southern margin of Eurasia in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic

Late Triassic and Early Jurassic palaeogeography of the world

The paleoclimatic maps were generated by the INTERGRAPH using PALEOCLIMATE and PALEOMAP software. The outlines of paleogeography contained in the recently generated Phanerozoic Paleogeographic maps are used as input for paleoclimatic modeling. The PALEOCLIMATE program models global atmosphere pressure, derive paleowind directions and estimate the likelihood of coastal upwelling. The program is based on the paleoclimatic models first developed by Judy Parrish, adopted by C.R. Scotese and modified by M.I. Ross. The Phanerozoic paleotemperature maps from PALEOCLIMATE contain surface temperature superimposed on paleogeographic templates (elevated areas, land masses, shallow and deep sea patterns). The paleotemperature map can be used as input for geochemical modeling software like COMPAS and for basin maturation evaluations. The paleoclimatic maps suite contains 58 maps (29 age slices, Cambrian to Present, winter and summer maps for each slice). The maps depict air pressure, wind directions, humid zones and areas favourable for upwelling conditions plotted on the paleogeographic background. The paleoclimatic modeling techniques can help evaluate the risk for source rocks in frontier exploration plays. Computer-predicted upwelling areas include major producing regions such as the Persian Gulf, Central Asia, Siberia, SE Asia, North Africa, North Sea, U.S. and Mexico. The map interpretation, integrated with traditional source rock prediction, indicates new potential exploration regions. These include the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Barents Sea, Soviet Arctic, South America, offshore Australia and China.

Phanerozoic Paleogeographic and Paleoclimatic Modeling Maps

Detecting patterns and processes of ecosystem evolution is among the main challenges of an integrated earth system science in the 21st century. The evolution of reefs reflects changes triggered by evolutionary innovations and variations in global and regional controls at different scales. The prime fossil record of Phanerozoic reefs offers the opportunity to trace these patterns through space and time. Phanerozoic Reef Patterns presents a comprehensive and up-to-date review on the history of reef building in the last 540 million years. A selection of internationally respected reef specialists presents a database on ancient reefs that is hardly available for any other ecosystem. The thoroughly documented patterns are analyzed with respect to global change, whose impact on living reefs is intensely discussed today. Phanerozoic Reef Patterns stands out from recent reviews on reef evolution by its careful qualitative and quantitative approach based on a comprehensive and multifaceted databank, by the strong focus on data, by a complete and unified coverage of the Phanerozoic from the Early Cambrian to the late Neogene, by emphasizing paleogeographic reef distributions presented on 32 newly developed color maps, and by a detailed index that makes the book a valuable research tool.

Jan Golonka

Papers

Plate tectonic evolution of the southern margin of Eurasia in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic

Late Triassic and Early Jurassic palaeogeography of the world

Phanerozoic Paleogeographic and Paleoclimatic Modeling Maps

Phanerozoic reef patterns

Pangean (Late Carboniferous-Middle Jurassic) paleoenvironment and lithofacies