Plate-driving forces over the Cenozoic era

Abstract

Under the assumptions of a dynamical balance between active torques and plate drag as the passive torque, plate reconstructions have been used to determine plate torques for the Cenozoic era. A torque balance equation is derived in which slab-pull and ridge-push torques are proportional to boundary chord vectors, with the weights depending on powers of the subduction velocity at the middle of the chords. The unique angular velocity satisfying the torque balance requirements is obtained for each plate. Torques are found to be fairly stable throughout the Cenozoic, with the misfit between the balanced torque and drag torque increasing systematically for earlier reconstructions.