Skip to main content
Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Crustal Ages of the Ocean Floor - Poster

The Crustal Ages of the Ocean Floor Poster was created at NGDC using the Crustal Ages of the Ocean Floor database draped digitally over a relief of the ocean floor database. The Crustal Ages of the Ocean Floor database was created by a consortia of marine scientists including Dr. R. Dietmar Muller, Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, University of Sydney, Australia, Dr. Walter R. Roest, Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Canada, Dr. Jean-Yves Royer, Lab. de Geodynamique, Villefranche Sur Mer, France, Dr. Lisa M. Gahagan, Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, and Dr. John G. Sclater, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California. This version of the age grid is based on the geomagnetic time scale of Cande and Kent (1995) for magnetic anomalies younger than chron 34 (83.5 Ma), and on the time scale from Gradstein et al, (1994) for older times. The grid node interval is 6 arc-minutes using a self- consistent set of global isochrons and associated plate reconstruction poles. The age of each grid node was determined by linear interpolation between adjacent isochrons in the direction of spreading. Ages for ocean floor between the oldest identified magnetic anomalies and continental crust were interpolated by estimating the ages of passive continental margin segments from geological data and published plate models. The gridded ages of the ocean floor are based on a digital set of isochrons. The isochrons are based on a large number of marine magnetic anomaly data, satellite altimetry data, and a self- consistent plate model. The finite rotation poles that the isochrons are based on and the references to the magnetic anomaly and fracture zone data are documented in the: University of Texas Institute for Geophysics Technical Report No. 117, 1992, "A global isochron chart" by J.-Y. Royer, R.D. Muller, L.M. Gahagan, L.A. Lawver, C.L. Mayes, D. Nurnberg, and J.G. Sclater. Digital age and error grids, files of continent-ocean boundaries and present day plate boundaries, a C-program to adapt the grid to new timescales, can be obtained from public ftp sites in North America and Australia.
Cite this dataset when used as a source.
  • ID not available.
gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.geophysics:G01167
Other Access
Distribution Formats
  • Poster
Ordering Instructions Ordering Instructions: Price information is available upon request. Prepay by bank card. There is a standard handling charge, with additional costs for special handling. Orders may be placed via fax, email, regular mail or telephone Custom Order Process: Contact data center for information
Distributor User Services
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
303-497-6826
ngdc.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Robin Warnken
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
303 497-6338
Robin.R.Warnken@noaa.gov
Time Period 1996-05-31 to 1996-05-31
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -180.0
East: 180.0
South: -90.0
North: 90.0
Spatial Coverage Map
Documentation links not available.
Publication Dates
  • publication: 1996-01-01
Edition First
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Data Update Frequency
Purpose Research, Public Interest, Education
Originators
  • CA/NRCAN/ESS/GSC>Geological Survey of Canada, Earth Sciences Sector, Natural Resources Canada
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • EARTH SCIENCE>SOLID EARTH>Rocks/Minerals>Age Determinations
  • EARTH SCIENCE>OCEANS>Marine Geophysics>Seafloor Spreading
  • EARTH SCIENCE>SOLID EARTH>Geomagnetism>Paleomagnetism
  • EARTH SCIENCE>SOLID EARTH>Rocks/Minerals>Age Determinations
  • EARTH SCIENCE>SOLID EARTH>Tectonics
  • EARTH SCIENCE>SOLID EARTH>Geodetics/Gravity>Crustal Motion
Uncontrolled Keywords
  • Ocean Crust
  • Geologic Age
  • Ocean Floor Samples
  • Plate Tectonics
  • Earth Science>Interior & Crust
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Global
  • Sea Floor
Project keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • ICSU-WDS > International Council for Science - World Data System
Use Constraints
  • Use Constraints: None
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
  • Access Constraints: No Constraints
Fees
  • Depends on the Data Set
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • magnetometer
  • dredging devices
  • coring devices
Platform
  • ship
  • drilling platforms
Last Modified: 2017-09-25
For questions about the information on this page, please email: Brian.Meyer@noaa.gov