Initial Publication Date: January 18, 2022
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Plate Motion Calculator

Description

The Plate Motion Calculator calculates tectonic plate motion at any location on Earth using one or more plate motion models.

Context

Can be used in nearly any circumstance when learners are studying plate tectonics. Gives learners a chance to explore the motion of a region of interest to them. Users do need to understand latitude and longitude.

Teaching Notes

Users need to have a way to determine latitude and longitude for the location they wish to input into the calculator. Thus it is best to pair this calculator with an online map interface such as Google Earth or Google Maps.
It is helpful for users to understand reference frames Tutorial: GPS Velocities Reference Frames or YouTube video: Measuring Plate Tectonics with GPS [see minutes 0:40-1:30 for reference frames])