Features of GPlates

What is GPlates?


GPlates is desktop software for the interactive visualisation of plate-tectonics.

GPlates offers a novel combination of interactive plate-tectonic reconstructions, geographic information system (GIS) functionality and raster data visualisation. GPlates enables both the visualisation and the manipulation of plate-tectonic reconstructions and associated data through geological time. GPlates runs on Windows, Linux and MacOS X.

The goals of GPlates are:

What is a plate-tectonic reconstruction?

The motions of tectonic plates through geological time may be described and simulated using plate-tectonic reconstructions. Plate-tectonic reconstructions are the calculations of the probable positions, orientations and motions of tectonic plates through time, based upon the relative (plate-to-plate) positions of plates at various times in the past which may be inferred from other data. Geological, geophysical and paleo-geographic data may be attached to the simulated plates, enabling a researcher to trace the motions and interactions of these data through time.

The GPlates program is accompanied by royalty-free data and a comprehensive user manual.

What can GPlates do?


As of GPlates 1.4, GPlates functionality includes:

What's next in GPlates?


We are currently working on the following functionality:

Future functionality will include: