5.2.4

Question 1

What are the hotspots?

Answer 1

Hot spots form around the core of the Earth where radioactive decay is concentrated

Question 2

What the magma plumes are and how are they moving?

Answer 2

This extreme heat creates magma plumes
These are upwellings of superheated rock that rise from deep within the Earth’s mantle towards the surface
They can break through the middle of a tectonic plate to reach the surface causing volcanic activity and earthquakes far away from plate margins

Question 3

Outline the formation of island chain?

Answer 3

Hot spots and magma plumes can lead to the creation of island chains such as Hawaii
The magma plume is stationary so when the tectonic plate moves over it, a chain of volcanoes is formed
The volcanoes are active when they are above the magma plume, but become extinct as the plate moves away
The oldest island is the one furthest away from the plume