Global Paleo-Dynamics

这项研究由两部分组成：第一，是项目所需的观测约束。大量关于板块运动历史和可能的驱动力分布的信息将被汇编并以对动力学计算有用的方式表示。其次，将开发模拟技术应用于现今的板块运动，以了解控制过去板块运动的力，并推断相关的地幔流动和粘性应力的历史。这些模型不仅有助于了解板块构造和地幔对流，而且有助于了解地幔非均质性的长期历史以及与之相关的大地水准面、动态地形、地球自转和海平面的变化。这项研究的总体目标是建立一个计算机实验室，用于研究过去板块运动的动力学及其对板块地球物理(和地球化学)演化的影响。该项目由美国国家科学基金会和美国国家航空航天局联合资助。

The research consists to two components: First, is the observational constraints necessary for the project. A large amount of information on the history of plate motions and on the distribution of possible driving forces will be compiled and represented in ways that are useful for dynamical calculations. Second, modelling techniques will be developed for application to present-day plate motions to understand the forces that have controlled past plate motions, inferring also the history of associated mantle flow and viscous stresses. These models will be useful not only in understanding plate tectonics and mantle convection, but also the long-term history of mantle heterogeneity, along with associated variations in the geoid, dynamic topography, Earth rotation,a nd sea-level. The overall goal of this research is to create a computer laboratory for studying the dynamics of past plate motions and their influence on the geophysical (and geochemical) evolution of the plate. This project is jointly funded by NSF and NASA.