Investigating the Plate Kinematics of the Bay of Biscay Using Deformable Plate Tectonic Models

27 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables, supporting Information https://doi.org/10.1029/2020TC006467.-- Data Availability Statement: Data used to perform gravity inversions are available through Andersen (2010), Divins (2003), Smith and Sandwell (1997), Muller et al. (1997), Sandwell and Smith (2009), and Tugend et al. (2014). Archiving of GPlates data files used to create deformable plate models can be found in the Mendeley Data repository at https://www.doi.org/10.17632/k3kp22yxs7.1The plate kinematics of the Iberian plate and their implications on the plate tectonic evolution of the Bay of Biscay during rifting and subsequent opening of the southern North Atlantic continue to be topics of scientific discussion and debate. Constrained by previous plate reconstruction, geophysical, and geological studies, deformable plate tectonic reconstructions of the Bay of Biscay-Parentis rift system are created in this study using the GPlates software. These deformable plate models are used to investigate the kinematics of the Landes High, Le Danois High, and Ebro Block previously recognized as independent continental blocks within deformable regions. A comparison between results calculated via deformable plate models with previously published and newly presented gravity inversion crustal thickness estimates provided a good metric for delineating the most probable plate kinematic scenario for the Bay of Biscay-Parentis system and investigating the effect of the plate kinematic scenarios on the present-day structure. The preferred plate kinematic model implies a transtensional Bay of Biscay-Parentis rift system from the Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, with the onset of significant crustal thinning initiating during the Late Jurassic (∼150 Ma) induced by the motion of the Landes High and its interplay with the Ebro Block. Aside from demonstrating the role of the Landes High and its suggested interplay with structural inheritance on the deformation experienced within the Bay of Biscay, the timing and orientation of regional stress directions, and the velocities induced by the preferred deformable model provide good comparisons with previously calculated subsidence ratesFunding for this project was provided by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Husky Energy, Nalcor Energy, and the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications of IrelandWith the institutional support of the ‘Severo OchoaCentre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S)Peer reviewe