Hotspots Flashcards
1
Q
What is a hotspot in geology?
A
An area in the mantle from which heat rises as a thermal plume, causing melting and volcanic activity away from plate boundaries.
2
Q
Give an example of a hotspot and its volcanic features
A
The Hawaiian hotspot, which has formed a chain of shield volcanoes and islands like Hawaii.
3
Q
How do hotspots create a chain of islands?
A
As a tectonic plate moves over a stationary hotspot, successive volcanoes form and eventually become islands.
