Global tectonic and climatic control of mean elevation of continents, and Phanerozoic sea level change

Abstract

Mean elevation of all continents, as well as mean elevation of individual continents, should be at the fundamental level controlled by the global tectonic and climatic systems. I propose a first-order model considering the interplay of the two factors in controlling mean elevation of continents. The model is able to account for the positive correlation between the present-day mean elevation and area of individual continents (except for Antarctica). Furthermore, it can also explain the low sea level during the times of supercontinents. Finally the model is used to evaluate the variation of continental crust thickness with time.