The oldest volcano of the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain was once directly abov
ID: 295478 • Letter: T
Question
The oldest volcano of the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain was once directly above the hot spot but is now in the northern Pacific, thousands of kilometers away (see the figure below), Seamount ages show that the hot spot has been active for a long time and reveal the direction and rate at which the Pacific Plate has moved (a) What evidence is there that the Pacific Plate has not always moved in the same direction? (b) How many years ago did the Pacific Plate change direction? Explain your reasoning. Physiography of the Pacific Ocean floor, showing ages of volcanoes in the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain.Explanation / Answer
Aplate tectonic theory states that the outrer layer or LITHOSPHERE has many plate & these plates are approx about 50 to100 miles thick .these plates move merely some cms/yrs.it was noticed that some portion of hot spot melts below the region,over lapping pacefic plates thus producing molten rocks (magma) these masses flowon the areas formed Hawaiians- emperors(named ).
the pacefic plates moved towards the north west i.e North America & move approx aat the speed of7cms/yrs.
the northen seamounts formed as the hot spot towards southwards about 45 Ma &finally remained stationary/fixed.
it is learnt that ongoing plate movement is maintained because MEIJI seamount being distroyed by SUBDUCTION by the ALEUTIAN trench once it moves into the trench the movement will be restricted though it will take million of years for motion
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