The different approaches for reconstructing palæogeography at the global scale in deep time

Plate tectonic reconstructions are different from palæogeographic reconstructions. The latter can be derived from the former, but not the opposite.

Many end-users (palæontologists, palæoclimate or mantle dynamics modellers) use a map (often without citing the source) of the palæogeography for a given time. However, there are various reconstructions of palæogeographies, based upon numerous plate tectonic models.

Aimed primarily at end-users, the presentation will focus on what are the main similarities and differences when creating a plate tectonic model. Then, different ways (mainly two) of proposing palæogeographies will also be discussed.

This information is crucial when using such maps and can have a significant impact on interpretations drawn from climate simulations or studies of the evolution of life through Earth history.