Hotspots - Geography Worksheet printable pdf download

Hotspots - Geography Worksheet

Hotspots

Geo 12

Name______________

In the following you will be investigating the Hawaiian Island chain, a chain of islands in the Pacific

Ocean created by hotspot volcanism.

1. Using past notes or other resources, name the plate upon which the Hawaiian Islands are located.

Where on the plate are the Hawaiian Islands located (edge; central; etc.)?

2. Look carefully at the following figure 19.46. Notice that the mantle plume is stationary. As the

lithospheric plate moves over the mantle plume, a chain of dormant volcanoes is created.

Current

position of

plume

Using this information, and the next figure 19.47, under which Hawaiian island is the hotspot located?

How do you know?

3. As the lithospheric plate moves over the mantle plume, the volcano that was created over the

hotspot is also moved (much like baggage on a conveyor belt). This creates a chain of dormant

volcanoes. The plate upon which the Hawaiian Islands are located is moving in a north westerly

direction. Looking at figure 19.47 above, notice that the islands become older as one moves

northwestwardly of Hawaii. The island of Hawaii is the youngest volcano. Using the hotspot theory,

explain this age distribution. In other words, why do the islands get progressively older to the

northwest?

Hotspots - Geography Worksheet