Abstract: Paleogeographic models contain reconstructions on position and motion of the tectonic plates and their surface features, and
serve as the framework for geological history reconstruction in the Deep-time Digital Earth (DDE) Big Science Program. Based on different data and methods, a lot of global paleogeographic models have been proposed in the past decades. Recently, it has become more common to use data from various fields such as paleomagnetism, paleontology, sedimentology, geophysics, geochemistry, and geodynamics to establish a digital, detail-adjustable, and self-evolving model. The current paper reviews the existing methods of global paleogeographic reconstruction models, and conducts a comprehensive comparison of the six main reconstruction models (PaleoMap, PLATES, UNIL, GOLONKA, GMAP, and EarthByte), as a reference for domestic research. We also introduced the applications and knowledge discoveries of reconstructed paleogeographic models in the field of paleoclimate, plate tectonics, and basin evolution. Under the framework of DDE program, a unified four-dimensional paleogeographic model will be reconstructed with efforts from paleogeographic scientists all over the world.

Key words: Deep-time Digital Earth, paleogeography, reconstruction model, paleoclimate, application