Reconstructions of past plate motions offer an ideal framework for other geological, paleo-geographical, paleo-oceanographic and paleo-climatology studies. Defining plate positions and relationships through time must follow a few relevant rules to be consistent. Mainly driven by processes occurring at their limits, the plates behaviour cannot be modelled without reconstructing these limits and the disappeared oceans. By integrating numerous data sources (including field geology, seismic data, paleomagnetism, paleobiogeography…) and various constraints (maximum plates velocity, ocean spreading rates…) we are developing synthetic scenarios leading to global geodynamic reconstructions. In order to significantly improve the constraints on the model a dedicated database has been developed in Esri's ArcGIS software. Based on a newly defined world-wild Terranes map (including more than 300 features), this database dynamically associates geological data and their geodynamical interpretations, the past positions of the terranes, the kinematics of the plates and the evolutions of their limits. A revised set of models covering most of the planet (with the exception of large oceans such as Panthalassa) extending from late Neoproterozoic to Tertiary times has been created. Based on these new models, new types of reconstructions such as 3D paleobathymetric models, paleo-kinematic reconstructions, and maps of validity have been developed.
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