The PI will develop dynamically self-consistent simulations of the plate/mantle system. In these simulations, non-subducting continental masses will interact with ridges, subducting slabs, and long wavelength temperature anomalies in the interior of the fluid. The dynamic topography will be computed on the top surface of the fluid, from which eustatic sea level fluctuations will be computed for the continental masses. The resulting simulations will be compared to the history of oceanic ridge spreading over the last 150 my, the history of subduction, the history of eustatic sea-level over the last 500 my paleogeographic positions of the continents, and present day seismic tomography and geoid. Through comparison of the numerical experiments with geophysical and geological observations, one will obtain an unprecedented view of the physics of sea level change.
