The proximity of hotspots to convergent and divergent plate boundaries

Journal Article · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL016i005p00433· OSTI ID:5599347

Weinstein, S A; Olson, P L ^[1]

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1. Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (USA)

An analysis of four different hotspot distributions, ranging from Morgan's (1972) original list of 19 to Vogt's (1981) list of 117 reveals that the hotspots are preferentially located near divergent plate boundaries. The probability of this proximity occurring by chance alone is quite remote, less than 0.01 for all four hotspots distributions. The same analysis also reveals that the hotspots are preferentially excluded from regions near convergent plate boundaries. The probability of this exclusion occurring by chance alone is 0.1 or less for three out of the four distributions examined. The authors interpret this behavior as being a consequence of the effects of large scale convective circulation on ascending mantle plumes. Mantle thermal plumes, the most probable source of hotspots, arise from instabilities in a basal thermal boundary layer. Plumes are suppressed from regions beneath convergent boundaries by descending flow and are entrained into the upwelling flow beneath spreading centers. Plate-scale convective driven by subduction may also advect mantle thermal plumes toward spreading centers.

• OSTI ID: 5599347
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) Vol. 16:5; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
CONVECTION
DATA ANALYSIS
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH MANTLE
ENERGY TRANSFER
GEOLOGIC MODELS
HEAT TRANSFER
HOT SPOTS
MAGMA
MAPS
MASS TRANSFER
PLATE TECTONICS
SUBDUCTION ZONES
TECTONICS