THE COMPUTER-PLOTTED PALAEOGEOGRAPHIC MAPS OF SOUTH CHINA

This paper gives a general review on the reconstruction of palaeogeographic continents with the aid of the computer-aid graphic method.This method may allow for the semiquantitative retrodiction by means of the synthesis of data sets that provide valuable information about the "absolute" latitudinal positon of plates,in combination with the data on palaeobiogeography,tectonic geography,palaeoclimates and basin analysis.Taking the advantage of the technology,the author attempts to plot a series of the Permian palaeogeographic maps of South China,and a Late Permian topographic map of South China may serve as a good example for the explanation of the process described in this parper.