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What average speed, in centimeters/year has the Pacific plate been moving for the past 5 million years? (Hint: Speed = distance/time. Measure distance using the scratch-paper method.) Show your calculations.

What average speed, in centimeters/year has the Pacific plate been moving for the past 5 million years? (Hint: Speed = distance/time. Measure distance using the scratch-paper method.) Show your calculations.

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals
Section: Chapter Questions
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What average speed, in centimeters/year has the Pacific plate been moving for the past 5 million years? (Hint: Speed = distance/time. Measure distance using the scratch-paper method.) Show your calculations.

**Purpose:** Use the track of the Hawaiian hot spot to determine the speed and direction of motion of the Pacific plate. **Hot Spots** According to plate tectonic theory, hot spots are mantle plumes—large columns of hot, rising mantle rock that originate in the lower mantle. Decompression of the rising mantle rock causes partial melting. The resulting basaltic magma then rises through the lithosphere above and erupts to form a basaltic volcano. The locations of hot spots remain fixed relative to the moving lithospheric plates above. The result is a "hot spot track"—a chain of volcanoes all of which are extinct except for the one on the end of the chain that is still over the hot spot. *Figure 1: A typical hot spot (mantle plume). Large arrow indicates direction of motion of lithospheric plate.* **The Hawaiian Hot Spot** The Hawaiian Islands are a chain of basaltic shield volcanoes. The "big island" of Hawaii is made of several overlapping volcanoes, with Kilauea being the most active. The volcanoes on the smaller islands to the northwest of the big island are extinct. According to plate tectonic theory, the big island is currently located above a hot spot. **The Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount Chain** The Hawaiian Islands lie at the southeast end of a much longer volcanic chain—the Hawaii-Emperor Seamount chain. Seamounts are extinct basaltic volcanoes whose peaks are now submerged below sea level. The Hawaii-Emperor Seamount chain is interpreted as a hot spot track that is nearly 6,000 km long. The oldest of the Emperor Seamounts (Meiji Seamount—about 70 Ma) is located at the northernmost end of the chain. This end of the chain is actively being subducted below the Aleutian trench (see Figure 3). The Hawaiian-Emperor chain is no longer above the hot spot; the oldest parts of the chain have already been subducted and recycled back into the mantle. ### Diagram Description **Figure 1:** This figure illustrates a typical hot spot with a mantle plume rising from the lower mantle through the lithosphere. "Decompression melting" occurs, leading to the formation of basaltic magma and volcanoes on the surface. An arrow shows the direction of the lithospheric plate's motion over the stationary hot spot.
Transcribed Image Text:**Purpose:** Use the track of the Hawaiian hot spot to determine the speed and direction of motion of the Pacific plate. **Hot Spots** According to plate tectonic theory, hot spots are mantle plumes—large columns of hot, rising mantle rock that originate in the lower mantle. Decompression of the rising mantle rock causes partial melting. The resulting basaltic magma then rises through the lithosphere above and erupts to form a basaltic volcano. The locations of hot spots remain fixed relative to the moving lithospheric plates above. The result is a "hot spot track"—a chain of volcanoes all of which are extinct except for the one on the end of the chain that is still over the hot spot. *Figure 1: A typical hot spot (mantle plume). Large arrow indicates direction of motion of lithospheric plate.* **The Hawaiian Hot Spot** The Hawaiian Islands are a chain of basaltic shield volcanoes. The "big island" of Hawaii is made of several overlapping volcanoes, with Kilauea being the most active. The volcanoes on the smaller islands to the northwest of the big island are extinct. According to plate tectonic theory, the big island is currently located above a hot spot. **The Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount Chain** The Hawaiian Islands lie at the southeast end of a much longer volcanic chain—the Hawaii-Emperor Seamount chain. Seamounts are extinct basaltic volcanoes whose peaks are now submerged below sea level. The Hawaii-Emperor Seamount chain is interpreted as a hot spot track that is nearly 6,000 km long. The oldest of the Emperor Seamounts (Meiji Seamount—about 70 Ma) is located at the northernmost end of the chain. This end of the chain is actively being subducted below the Aleutian trench (see Figure 3). The Hawaiian-Emperor chain is no longer above the hot spot; the oldest parts of the chain have already been subducted and recycled back into the mantle. ### Diagram Description **Figure 1:** This figure illustrates a typical hot spot with a mantle plume rising from the lower mantle through the lithosphere. "Decompression melting" occurs, leading to the formation of basaltic magma and volcanoes on the surface. An arrow shows the direction of the lithospheric plate's motion over the stationary hot spot.
**Map of the Hawaiian Islands** This map illustrates the Hawaiian Islands and indicates the locations of basalt lava samples. Notable features include: - **Island Identification and Ages**: Each island is marked with a number in parentheses, representing the age of the oldest dated rocks in millions of years, determined by radiometric dating. These are: - Kauai: 5.1 million years - Niihau: 4.89 million years - Oahu: 3.7 million years - Molokai: 1.9 million years - Lanai: 1.28 million years - Maui: 1.32 million years - Kahoolawe: 1.03 million years - Hawaii: Features locations with active and historically active volcanoes - **Volcanic Activity on Hawaii**: - The island of Hawaii is highlighted with several volcanoes: - Kohala: 0.43 million years - Mauna Kea: 0.375 million years - Hualalai (historically active) - Mauna Loa (active) - Kilauea (active) - Loihi (active) - **Geographical Orientation**: - The map includes a compass rose indicating north at the top. - A scale bar is provided to indicate distance, measured in kilometers (0 to 200 km). This map is useful for understanding the geological timeline and volcanic activity of the Hawaiian Islands, illustrating how these dynamic landforms have evolved over millions of years.
Transcribed Image Text:**Map of the Hawaiian Islands** This map illustrates the Hawaiian Islands and indicates the locations of basalt lava samples. Notable features include: - **Island Identification and Ages**: Each island is marked with a number in parentheses, representing the age of the oldest dated rocks in millions of years, determined by radiometric dating. These are: - Kauai: 5.1 million years - Niihau: 4.89 million years - Oahu: 3.7 million years - Molokai: 1.9 million years - Lanai: 1.28 million years - Maui: 1.32 million years - Kahoolawe: 1.03 million years - Hawaii: Features locations with active and historically active volcanoes - **Volcanic Activity on Hawaii**: - The island of Hawaii is highlighted with several volcanoes: - Kohala: 0.43 million years - Mauna Kea: 0.375 million years - Hualalai (historically active) - Mauna Loa (active) - Kilauea (active) - Loihi (active) - **Geographical Orientation**: - The map includes a compass rose indicating north at the top. - A scale bar is provided to indicate distance, measured in kilometers (0 to 200 km). This map is useful for understanding the geological timeline and volcanic activity of the Hawaiian Islands, illustrating how these dynamic landforms have evolved over millions of years.
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