Open AccessNumerical Modelling of Instantaneous Plate Tectonics *
Author(s) -
Minster J. B.,
Jordan T. H.,
Molnar P.,
Haines E.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1974.tb00613.x
Subject(s) - geology , gaussian , lithosphere , plate tectonics , inverse problem , inverse theory , slip (aerodynamics) , inverse , distribution (mathematics) , geodesy , mathematics , tectonics , geometry , deformation (meteorology) , mathematical analysis , seismology , physics , oceanography , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
Summary Assuming lithospheric plates to be rigid, we systematically invert 68 spreading rates, 62 fracture zones trends and 106 earthquake slip vectors simultaneously to obtain a self‐consistent model of instantaneous relative motions for eleven major plates. The inverse problem is linearized and solved iteratively by a maximum likelihood procedure. Because the uncertainties in the data are small, Gaussian statistics are shown to be adequate. The use of a linear theory permits (1) the calculation of the uncertainties in the various angular velocity vectors caused by uncertainties in the data, and (2) quantitative examination of the distribution of information within the data set. The existence of a self‐consistent model satisfying all the data is strong justification of the rigid plate assumption. Slow movement between North and South America is shown to be resolvable. We then invert the trends of 20 linear island chains and aseismic ridges under the assumptions that they represent the directions of plate motions over a set of hot spots fixed with respect to each other. We conclude that these hot spots have had no significant relative motions in the last 10 My.