Hotspot (geology)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Diagram showing a cross section through Earth at the Hawaii hotspot. Magma originating in the mantle rises into the asthenosphere and lithosphere. A chain of volcanoes is created as the lithosphere moves over the source of magma.

In

tectonic plate boundaries
, and so hotspots may create a chain of volcanoes as the plates move above them.

There are two

hypotheses that attempt to explain their origins. One suggests that hotspots are due to mantle plumes that rise as thermal diapirs from the core–mantle boundary.[2] The alternative plate theory is that the mantle source beneath a hotspot is not anomalously hot, rather the crust above is unusually weak or thin, so that lithospheric extension permits the passive rising of melt from shallow depths.[3][4]

Origin

Schematic diagram showing the physical processes inside the Earth that lead to the generation of magma. Partial melting begins above the fusion point.
Map showing approximate location of many current hotspots and the relationship to current tectonic plates and their boundaries and movement vectors

The origins of the concept of hotspots lie in the work of

tectonic plate across a hot region beneath the surface.[5] It was later postulated that hotspots are fed by streams of hot mantle rising from the Earth's core–mantle boundary in a structure called a mantle plume.[6] Whether or not such mantle plumes exist has been the subject of a major controversy in Earth science,[4][7] but seismic images consistent with evolving theory now exist.[8]

At any place where volcanism is not linked to a constructive or destructive plate margin, the concept of a hotspot has been used to explain its origin. A review article by Courtillot et al.[9] listing possible hotspots makes a distinction between primary hotspots coming from deep within the mantle and secondary hotspots derived from mantle plumes. The primary hotspots originate from the core/mantle boundary and create large volcanic provinces with linear tracks (Easter Island, Iceland, Hawaii, Afar, Louisville, Reunion, and Tristan confirmed; Galapagos, Kerguelen and Marquersas likely). The secondary hotspots originate at the upper/lower mantle boundary, and do not form large volcanic provinces, but island chains (Samoa, Tahiti, Cook, Pitcairn, Caroline, MacDonald confirmed, with up to 20 or so more possible). Other potential hotspots are the result of shallow mantle material surfacing in areas of lithospheric break-up caused by tension and are thus a very different type of volcanism.

Estimates for the number of hotspots postulated to be fed by mantle plumes have ranged from about 20 to several thousand, with most geologists considering a few tens to exist.[8] Hawaii, Réunion, Yellowstone, Galápagos, and Iceland are some of the most active volcanic regions to which the hypothesis is applied. The plumes imaged to date vary widely in width and other characteristics, and are tilted, being not the simple, relatively narrow and purely thermal plumes many expected.[8] Only one, (Yellowstone) has as yet been consistently modelled and imaged from deep mantle to surface.[8]

Composition

Most hotspot volcanoes are

subduction zone volcanoes, in which water is trapped under the overriding plate. Where hotspots occur in continental regions, basaltic magma rises through the continental crust, which melts to form rhyolites. These rhyolites can form violent eruptions.[10][11] For example, the Yellowstone Caldera was formed by some of the most powerful volcanic explosions in geologic history. However, when the rhyolite is completely erupted, it may be followed by eruptions of basaltic magma rising through the same lithospheric fissures (cracks in the lithosphere). An example of this activity is the Ilgachuz Range in British Columbia, which was created by an early complex series of trachyte and rhyolite eruptions, and late extrusion of a sequence of basaltic lava flows.[12]

The hotspot hypothesis is now closely linked to the mantle plume hypothesis.[13][8] The detailed compositional studies now possible on hotspot basalts have allowed linkage of samples over the wider areas often implicate in the later hypothesis,[14] and it's seismic imaging developments.[8]

Contrast with subduction zone island arcs

Hotspot volcanoes are considered to have a fundamentally different origin from island arc volcanoes. The latter form over subduction zones, at converging plate boundaries. When one oceanic plate meets another, the denser plate is forced downward into a deep ocean trench. This plate, as it is subducted, releases water into the base of the over-riding plate, and this water mixes with the rock, thus changing its composition causing some rock to melt and rise. It is this that fuels a chain of volcanoes, such as the Aleutian Islands, near Alaska.

Hotspot volcanic chains

a trail of underwater mountains
that stretches across the Pacific.
Kilauea is the most active shield volcano in the world. The volcano erupted from 1983 to 2018 and is part of the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain
.
Mauna Loa is a large shield volcano. Its last eruption was in 2022 and it is part of the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain.
Kodiak-Bowie Seamount chain
.
Axial Seamount is the youngest seamount of the Cobb–Eickelberg Seamount chain. Its last eruption was in 2015.
cinder cones
have been emplaced around its summit.
Hualalai is a massive shield volcano in the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain
. Its last eruption was in 1801.

The joint

Yellowstone
, which lies at the end of a chain of extinct calderas, which become progressively older to the west. Another example is the Hawaiian archipelago, where islands become progressively older and more deeply eroded to the northwest.

Geologists have tried to use hotspot volcanic chains to track the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates. This effort has been vexed by the lack of very long chains, by the fact that many are not time-progressive (e.g. the Galápagos) and by the fact that hotspots do not appear to be fixed relative to one another (e.g. Hawaii and Iceland).[15] That mantle plumes are much more complex than originally hypothesised and move independently of each other and plates is now used to explain such observations.[8]

In 2020, Wei et al. used

subducted to a depth of 800 km under eastern Siberia.[16]

Postulated hotspot volcano chains

An example of mantle plume locations suggested by one recent group.[9] Figure from Foulger (2010).[4]

List of volcanic regions postulated to be hotspots

Distribution of hotspots in the list to the left, with the numbers corresponding to those in the list. The Afar hotspot (29) is misplaced.

Eurasian Plate

African Plate

Antarctic Plate

South American Plate

North American Plate

Australian Plate

Nazca Plate

Pacific Plate

Over millions of years, the Pacific Plate has moved over the Bowie hotspot, creating the Kodiak–Bowie Seamount chain in the Gulf of Alaska.
The Hotspot highway in the south Pacific Ocean

Former hotspots

See also


References

  1. USGS
    . 16 April 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  2. ^
    S2CID 4145715
    .
  3. ^ "Do plumes exist?". Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  4. ^ .
  5. .
  6. ^ "Hotspots: Mantle thermal plumes". United States Geological Survey. 5 May 1999. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  7. American Geological Institute
    . Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  8. ^ . Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  9. ^ .
  10. .
  11. .
  12. ^ Holbek, Peter (November 1983). "Report on Preliminary Geology and Geochemistry of the Ilga Claim Group" (PDF). Retrieved 15 June 2008. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. .
  14. ^ .
  15. ^ Sager, William W. (4 June 2007). "Insight into Motion of the Hawaiian Hotspot from Paleomagnetism". www.MantlePlumes.org.
  16. S2CID 227059993
    .
  17. .
  18. ^ .
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi W. J. Morgan and J. P. Morgan. "Plate velocities in hotspot reference frame: electronic supplement" (PDF). Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  20. S2CID 4428980
    .
  21. (PDF) on 26 July 2011.
  22. .
  23. .
  24. ^ "Catalogue of Canadian volcanoes- Anahim volcanic belt". Natural Resources Canada. Geological Survey of Canada. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2008.

Further reading

External links