MORVEL: A Precise Model Of Tectonic-Plate Movements

Geophysicists have developed a new model of the Earth, 20 years in the making, that offers a precise description of the relative movements of 25 interlocking tectonic plates that account for 97 percent of the Earth's surface. Dubbed MORVEL for "mid-ocean ridge velocities,"  the new model is detailed in Geophysical Journal International. The work builds on a 1990 study describing tectonic plate velocities. During the past 20 years, researchers have incorporated more and higher-quality data to improve the model's resolution and precision. read more

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