Modelling the role of dynamic topography and eustasy in the evolution of the Great Artesian Basin

Widespread flooding of the Australian continent during Early Cretaceous, referred to as Eromanga Sea, deposited extensive shallow marine sediments throughout Great Artesian Basin (GAB). This event had been considered ‘out sync’ with eustatic sea level and was instead solely attributed dynamic subsidence associated Australia's passage over eastern Gondwanan subducted material. However, mantle convection models previously used explain this have since shown overestimate topography amplitude by a factor two compared residual estimates. Previous were also based on Cretaceous peak at ca. 90 Ma in conventional curves; however, more recent estimates global from ocean basin volume (OBV) suggest may occurred earlier 120 Ma. Our work links time-dependent erosion deposition eustasy test their contribution development using landscape evolution code pyBadlands. results show that lower derived pseudo-compressible flow better reflect vertical motions (ca. 100 m) incompressible counterparts 200–400 m). Additionally, our include Neogene north-eastward tilting Australia, elusive most published geodynamic models. In conjunction an OBV-derived curve, preferred model broadly matches inundation patterns first-order sedimentary sequences GAB. The highlight is likely combination high levels regional effects subsidence. provides framework for new generation evolving paleogeographic continental scales, while providing key insights into viability existing curves reproducing topographic evolution.