Hotspots

More than a trip south

Most of the world’s volcanism is associated with divergent and convergent plate boundaries.

However there are sites of volcanism that cannot be explained using plate tectonics.

These sites of this type of volcanism are referred to as hotspot volcanism.

Hotspots volcanoes are generally located far from plate boundaries.

Hotspot volcanoes are created by stationary mantle plumes or narrow columns of rising magma for the Earth’s deep interior.

Mantles plumes have a variety of shapes and

sizes.

The width of the mantle plume can range from 700-1000 km

Material appears to rise at a rate of two meters per year.

An important feature is that their position are relatively stationary and long-lived

Hotspots can occur on both oceanic crust and continental crusts.

Oceanic Hotspots Submarine volcano is created Will form island, e.g. Hawaiian Islands, Canary

Islands, Galapagos Islands

A chain of volcanoes or islands are formed

Canary Islands

Continental Hotspots Vast flood plains of basalt are created Upwelling and rifting may also occur Yellowstone National Park is an example.