Hotspots and Global Absolute Plate Motions

University Of Hawaii, Honolulu

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract Wessel 0526496 The hotspot hypothesis postulates that mantle plumes cause surface volcanism to form linear trains as overlying lithospheric plates move relative to the stationary or slowly moving plumes. Given geometry and ages from several trails one can construct absolute plate motions (APM) that provide valuable information about past and present tectonism, paleogeography, and volcanism. The authors have developed a hybrid technique that overcomes the limitations of absolute plate motion and relative plate motion approaches. The new technique can be derived from either stationary or moving plumes. During this project the authors will further develop their APM modeling to address a broader range of questions, in particular hotspot motion. High-resolution APM models will be determined for the key plates Pacific, Africa, and Australia, both with and without hotspot motion. This will allow an assessment of the uniqueness of the APM models and to quantify plume drift within a group as well as between groups.