Whenever a reconstruction has been made it is important to note that EasyGmap automatically generates a so-called ‘Animation file’ that contains all the information for a specific reconstruction. We have, therefore, included some ‘Animation’ options which allow the operator to check which continents are included in a reconstruction, inspect Euler rotation parameters and change them if necessary.
Example 1: Relative reconstruction using magnetic anomaly fits at 50 Ma
Set Projection to Equal area (Schmidt) and change projection centre to 90 (polar projection)
In EasyGmap controller make sure that reconstruction mode is set to Relative Fit
Type ‘50’ in the EasyGmap age box and click on Reconstruct
This would produce a relative reconstruction based on magnetic anomaly fits (interpolated between real input values). In this reconstruction, North America is kept fixed, but in Set you also have the option to keep Europe fixed.
Example 2: Hotspot and magnetic anomaly fits at 50 Ma
Set Projection to Equal area (Schmidt) and change projection centre to 90 (polar projection)
In EasyGmap controller make sure that reconstruction mode is set to Hotspot Frame
Type ‘50’ in the EasyGmap age box and click on Reconstruct
This would produce a figure similar to the example above, but apart from the same relative fits, all the land-masses have now been placed in ‘correct’ latitude and longitude.
Example 3: Palaeomagnetic reconstruction at 170 Ma
Set Projection to Equal area (Schmidt)
In EasyGmap controller make sure that reconstruction mode is set to Palaeomagnetic Frame
Type ‘170’ in the EasyGmap age box and click on Reconstruct
Continents will be placed at ‘correct’ latitudes but palaeolongitude is not constrained
Example 4: Hotspot and magnetic anomaly fits at 70 Ma with plate velocity vectors
Set Projection to Equal area (Schmidt) and change projection centre to 90 (polar projection)
In EasyGmap controller make sure that reconstruction mode is set to Hotspot Frame and click on Plate vectors
Type ‘70’ in the EasyGmap age box and click on Reconstruct
This produces a hotspot reconstruction with plate velocity directions. Vectord in this example are scaled.