February 10, 1997 | R. Dietmar Müller, Walter R. Roest, Jean-Yves Royer, Lisa M. Gahagan, and John G. Sclater
A digital age grid of the world's ocean floor has been created using a self-consistent set of global isochrons and plate reconstruction poles. The grid has a node interval of 6 arc minutes and provides age estimates for the ocean floor, with error estimates for each grid cell. The age at each grid node is determined by linear interpolation between adjacent isochrons in the direction of spreading. Ages for ocean floor between the oldest magnetic anomalies and continental crust are interpolated using geological data and published plate models. The grid includes error estimates based on the error of ocean floor ages identified from magnetic anomalies, the distance to the nearest magnetic anomaly, and the gradient of the age grid. The grid is used for studies of the thermal and elastic structure of the lithosphere, heat loss of the Earth, ridge-push forces, and constraints for seismic tomography and mantle convection models. The grid was constructed using a global plate model, magnetic anomaly identifications, and fracture zones. The grid includes data from ship tracks, satellite altimetry, and bathymetric data. The accuracy of the grid varies due to the spatial distribution of ship track data and the spacing of isochrons. The grid is accompanied by a grid estimating the uncertainties of the gridded ages. The digital age grid is the first of its kind, as it is based on a self-consistent global plate model and includes error estimates. The grid is available online. The authors acknowledge the contributions of various institutions and individuals.A digital age grid of the world's ocean floor has been created using a self-consistent set of global isochrons and plate reconstruction poles. The grid has a node interval of 6 arc minutes and provides age estimates for the ocean floor, with error estimates for each grid cell. The age at each grid node is determined by linear interpolation between adjacent isochrons in the direction of spreading. Ages for ocean floor between the oldest magnetic anomalies and continental crust are interpolated using geological data and published plate models. The grid includes error estimates based on the error of ocean floor ages identified from magnetic anomalies, the distance to the nearest magnetic anomaly, and the gradient of the age grid. The grid is used for studies of the thermal and elastic structure of the lithosphere, heat loss of the Earth, ridge-push forces, and constraints for seismic tomography and mantle convection models. The grid was constructed using a global plate model, magnetic anomaly identifications, and fracture zones. The grid includes data from ship tracks, satellite altimetry, and bathymetric data. The accuracy of the grid varies due to the spatial distribution of ship track data and the spacing of isochrons. The grid is accompanied by a grid estimating the uncertainties of the gridded ages. The digital age grid is the first of its kind, as it is based on a self-consistent global plate model and includes error estimates. The grid is available online. The authors acknowledge the contributions of various institutions and individuals.