Phanerozoic marine inundation of continents driven by dynamic topography above subducting slabs

A spherical model of mantle flow constrained by the locations of trenches can be used to predict the dynamic topography of the Earth's surface, and hence the marine inundation of continents. For past periods of high sea level, the predicted geographical pattern of flooding correlates well with the geological record. The high spatial correlation may result from increased plate velocities at these times, leading to increased rates of subduction, subsidence and inundation at convergent margins.