Lithospheric controls on plate tectonic motions and microcontinent formation, part 1: Mapping global transpression and transtension using gravity derivatives and machine learning

Many potential green energy resources are undiscovered on our planet, hidden within crustal structures such as microcontinents, the formation of which is not well-understood. Recent work by Whittaker et al. (2016) suggests formation of microcontinents from plate tectonic reorganisation, where transpression along transform plates causing ridge jumps into rifted continental margins. To test this hypothesis, we aim to globally map transpressive and transtensional oceanic fracture zones. These structures with specific spectral gravity wavelength signatures will be identified using machine learning approaches and the Generic Mapping Tools (GMT). In later work, we will kinematically model the onset and development of these transpressional and transtensional structures to understand their relative timing to kinematic change and decipher the role of lithospheric structures in microcontinent cleaving and the global plate tectonic system.