Seafloor Subsidence Assignment -
Objectives:
1) Determine plate velocities by modeling thermal subsidence of oceanic lithosphere
2) Develop matlab skills:
- Make figures with multiple data sets
- use "for " loops in matlab
To do: Estimate the spreading velocity of the Pacific and Atlantic plates.
Procedure: You'll need to download the data (Bath.mat) from Canvas Then, once you're in matlab, you will write a script to
- load and plot the bathymetric data
- code-up the equation for depth as a function of distance and velocity (from above) Note: you were given the equation in terms of age- so you'll need to use the relationship age= f(velocity and distance)
- plot the calculated depth as a function of distance
- double check that you're using consistent units throughout (some measurements are in meters, some calculations are in kilometers)
- by using a "for" loop, vary the velocity until your calculated plot matches the plotted bathymetry of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
- for each ocean, create a plot with the best matching calculated bathymetry and the real bathymetry
To hand in:
1- Question 1: Are your velocities spreading rates, or half spreading rates
2- Your M-Flie
3- Your 2 plots: including data, calculated depths, labeled axes, legend, title (with estimated velocity). Make sure you have units, and appropriate sig figs.
Attachment:- Assignment File.rar