1.19 - Hotspots Flashcards
What type of tectonic activity is Yellowstone associated with?
Intraplate tectonics.
How long has the North American plate been moving over the Yellowstone hotspot?
17 million years.
What is the Yellowstone Caldera?
A supervolcano formed 640,000 years ago.
What are two major geological features of Yellowstone?
Huge river valleys and geothermal activity.
What does the term ‘intraplate tectonics’ refer to?
Tectonic activity occurring away from plate boundaries, within a tectonic plate.
Why is Yellowstone considered an example of intraplate tectonics?
It is located within the North American plate, not at a plate boundary.
What geological features are influenced by the Yellowstone hotspot?
Geothermal features such as geysers and hot springs.
How did the Yellowstone Caldera form?
Through a massive volcanic eruption 640,000 years ago.
What is the primary geological hazard of the Yellowstone supervolcano?
A potential catastrophic eruption with global impact.
What type of volcanic activity is found in Yellowstone?
Geothermal activity such as geysers, fumaroles, and hot springs.
What does the term ‘caldera’ mean?
A large volcanic crater formed by a major eruption and collapse of the volcano.
What are the Hawaiian Islands classified as?
An archipelago of 8 major islands.
At what rate are the Hawaiian Islands moving?
32 miles per million years.
Which direction are the Hawaiian Islands moving?
Southeast.
What geological feature is responsible for the formation of the Hawaiian Islands?
A volcanic hotspot beneath the Pacific Plate.
