Hi all,
- I’m (still) working my way through Tutorial 2.4 Constructing a plate model from scratch (Tutorial 2.4 Constructing a Plate Model From Scratch)
Thanks to helpers here I was able to complete and load my constructed rot file (thanks, again!). I completed and loaded the rot file and edited the shape file as the tutorial instructs. However, I am stuck now in that the plates do not move when the age date input/slider is altered.
I upload both the rot file and the shapefile here if anyone would like to replicate the problem and offer advice.
- I have a second question - The tutorial also notes a specific alteration suggested for rot files:
“One final wrinkle with the Rodinia example is when plates have finite rotation poles greater than 180 degrees. If you simply use the rotations given in the Li et al table directly into GPlates, the reconstructions at the time prescribed in the table will look fine - however, the interpolated poles defining the positions of the plates between these times may give strange results. This is a problem that is more likely to occur in models going a long way back in time (e.g., this Rodinia model), since there is greater potential for blocks to have rotated large amounts relative to their original position. To avoid this problem, we can add 360 degrees to the rotation angle for each time where the rotation pole results in an unnecessarily circuitous path from one finite rotation pole time to the next. To see the effect of this process, look at the third sheet in the provided spreadsheet and compare it to the second one.”
I’ve examined the file and the alterations are not easily understood (at least to me, apologies, again, if it is obvious) as simple additions of 360 to the rotations. If anyone can step me through that, I’d be grateful.
- I am using GPlates in a college class (first time I’m teaching this) and am having students make small plate models for lots of different events throughout history. It’s an exciting opportunity for them (and for me), but we’re all on a steep slope. Many thanks for advice on solving these problems.