51 Volcanoes Hot Spots

In geology, the places known as hotspots or hot spots are volcanic regions thought to be fed by underlying mantle that is anomalously hot compared with the surrounding mantle. They may be on, near to, or far from tectonic plate boundaries. Currently, there are two hypotheses that attempt to explain their origins. One suggests that they are due to hot mantle plumes that rise as thermal diapirs from the core–mantle boundary.[8] An alternative hypothesis postulates that it is not high temperature that causes the volcanism, but lithospheric extension that permits the passive rising of melt from shallow depths.[9] This hypothesis considers the term “hotspot” to be a misnomer, asserting that the mantle source beneath them is, in fact, not anomalously hot at all. Well known examples include Hawaii and Yellowstone.
Hotspot.Geology.
Figure 1. Diagram showing a cross section though the Earth’s lithosphere (in yellow) with magma rising from the mantle (in red)

Background

The origins of the concept of hotspots lie in the work of J. Tuzo Wilson, who postulated in 1963 that the Hawaiian Islands result from the slow movement of a tectonic plate across a hot region beneath the surface.[10] It was later postulated that hotspots are fed by narrow streams of hot mantle rising from the Earth’s core–mantle boundary in a structure called a mantle plume.[11] Whether or not such mantle plumes exist is currently the subject of a major controversy in Earth science.[12] Estimates for the number of hotspots postulated to be fed by mantle plumes has ranged from about 20 to several thousands, over the years, with most geologists considering a few tens to exist. Hawaii, Réunion, Yellowstone, Galápagos, and Iceland are some of the currently most active volcanic regions to which the hypothesis is applied.

Schematic diagram showing the physical processes within the Earth’s upper mantle that lead to the generation of magma. A to D are different plate tectonic settings. The graphs show the geotherm (temperature curve inside the Earth, red) and the solidus (temperature where rock starts to melt, green). When the two curves cross each other, magma is generated by partial melting. A) the curves do not cross - no magma is generated B) at mid-ocean ridges magma generation occurs at quite shallow depths due to high temperatures and very thin lithosphere C) over mantle plumes magma generation occurs at larger depths due to even higher temperatures but thicker lithosphere D) over subducting slabs magma generation occurs at larger depths due to lowering of melting temperature of the rock by fluids released from the slab
Figure 2. Schematic diagram showing the physical processes inside the Earth that lead to the generation of magma.
Most hotspot volcanoes are basaltic (e.g., Hawaii, Tahiti). As a result, they are less explosive than 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. 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 theIlgachuz 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.[13]

The hotspot hypothesis is now closely linked to the mantle plume hypothesis.

Comparison with island arc volcanoes

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

The joint mantle plume/hotspot hypothesis envisages the feeder structures to be fixed relative to one another, with the continents and seafloor drifting overhead. The hypothesis thus predicts that time-progressive chains of volcanoes are developed on the surface. Examples are 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[14]).

The trail of underwater mountains created as the tectonic plate moved across the Hawaii hotspot over millions of years, known as the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain, or the Emperor Seamounts.
Figure 3. Over millions of years, the Pacific Plate has moved over the Hawaii hotspot, creating a trail of underwater mountains that stretch across the Pacific
  1. . “J. Morgan (5 March 1971). \”Convection Plumes in the Lower Mantle.\” Nature 230 (5288): 42-43. doi: 10.1038/230042a0.” ↵
  2. “Do “plumes exist?\”. Retrieved 2010-04-25. See also, Foulger, G.R. (2010). Plates vs. Plumes: A Geological Controversy. Wiley-Blackwell.” ↵
  3. Wilson, “J. Tuzo (1963). \”A possible origin of the Hawaiian Islands\” (PDF). Canadian Journal of Physics 41 (6): 863-870. doi:10.1139/p63-094.” ↵
  4. “Hotspots: “Mantle thermal plumes.\” United States Geological Survey. 1999-05-05. Retrieved 2008-05-15.” ↵
  5. Foulger, “G.R. (2010). Plates vs. Plumes: A Geological Controversy. Wiley-Blackwell. See also,Wright, Laura (November 2000). \”Earth’s interior: Raising hot spots.\” Geotimes. American Geological Institute. Retrieved 2008-06-15.” ↵
  6. Holbek, “Peter (November 1983). \”Report on Preliminary Geology and Geochemistry of the Ilga Claim Group\” (PDF). Retrieved 2008-06-15.” ↵
  7. “What “the hell is Hawaii?\” Retrieved 2011-01-07.” ↵
  8. . “J. Morgan (5 March 1971). \”Convection Plumes in the Lower Mantle.\” Nature 230 (5288): 42–43. doi: 10.1038/230042a0.” ↵
  9. “Do “plumes exist?\”. Retrieved 2010-04-25. See also, Foulger, G.R. (2010). Plates vs. Plumes: A Geological Controversy. Wiley-Blackwell.” ↵
  10. Wilson, “J. Tuzo (1963). \”A possible origin of the Hawaiian Islands\” (PDF). Canadian Journal of Physics 41 (6): 863–870. doi:10.1139/p63-094.” ↵
  11. “Hotspots: “Mantle thermal plumes.\” United States Geological Survey. 1999-05-05. Retrieved 2008-05-15.” ↵
  12. Foulger, “G.R. (2010). Plates vs. Plumes: A Geological Controversy. Wiley-Blackwell. See also,Wright, Laura (November 2000). \”Earth’s interior: Raising hot spots.\” Geotimes. American Geological Institute. Retrieved 2008-06-15.” ↵
  13. Holbek, “Peter (November 1983). \”Report on Preliminary Geology and Geochemistry of the Ilga Claim Group\” (PDF). Retrieved 2008-06-15.” ↵
  14. “What “the hell is Hawaii?\” Retrieved 2011-01-07.” ↵

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