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In the context of plate tectonics, a plume is a column of very hot magma, much hotter than the usual temperature of the mantle, that rises through the cooler magma because the heat causes it to expand and therefore to be less dense. When the rising magma reaches the crust, it exerts force on the crust and contributes to continental drift. It can also cause volcanoes. The Hawaiian chain is an example of islands that were produced by volcanoes that were all caused by the same plume. As the crustal plate moves, the plume strikes different parts of the crust.

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What is a plume in hydrology?

In hydrology, a plume refers to a visible or measurable flow of one substance within another substance. For example, a plume of contaminant in groundwater refers to the movement of the contaminant within the groundwater. Plumes can be studied to track the movement of substances in water systems.


How can one mantle plume form several volcanic islands?

Mantle plumes appear to remain nearly stationary. However, the lithospheric plate above a mantle plume continues to drift slowly. So, the volcano on the surface is eventually carried away from the mantle plume. The activity of the volcano stops because it has moved away from the hot spot that supplied it with magma. A new volcano forms, however, at the point on the plate's surface that is now over the mantle plume. Some mantle plumes are long and linear. As magma generated by these plumes rises through cracks in Earth's crust, a line of hotspot volcanoes forms. Unlike volcanoes that form individually as a plate moves over a mantle plume, hot-spot volcanoes that form in lines over a long plume do not have any particular age relationship to each another.Mantle plumes appear to remain nearly stationary. However, the lithospheric plate above a mantle plume continues to drift slowly. So, the volcano on the surface is eventually carried away from the mantle plume. The activity of the volcano stops because it has moved away from the hot spot that supplied it with magma. A new volcano forms, however, at the point on the plate's surface that is now over the mantle plume. Some mantle plumes are long and linear. As magma generated by these plumes rises through cracks in Earth's crust, a line of hotspot volcanoes forms. Unlike volcanoes that form individually as a plate moves over a mantle plume, hot-spot volcanoes that form in lines over a long plume do not have any particular age relationship to each another.


What is the most frequant cause of rocks breaking apart?

Probably, earthquakes or volcanic activity. Or the movement of plate tectonics.


What type of plate interaction is the most likely cause of the volcano?

The most likely cause of a volcano is a convergent plate boundary, where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another in the process of subduction. This movement melts rock and generates magma, which can rise to the surface and erupt as a volcano.


What natural disasters are cause by plate techtonics?

hurricanes is not what occurs it is earthquakes volcanos tsunamis and mountains

Related Questions

What movement does mantle convection currents cause?

They cause plate movement. The plate movement then causes an earthquake.


What would cause a major earthquake in B.C.?

plate movement and plate tectonics


How did the Hawaiian chain island form?

The Hawaiian Island chain formed from a mantle plume and moving plates. The rising mantle plume causes crustal material to melt at depth, which results in volcanism and finally in the formation of a volcanic island. Since the Pacific Plate is in continuous (although slow) movement, the same mantle plume will cause volcanism subsequently in different places and this is expressed at the surface as a chain of volcanoes or volcanic islands.


Do earthquakes cause transform plate movement?

No, they don't. In fact earthquake are a result of transform plate movement.


What force cause the movement of the continent from one supercontinent to the present positions?

the movement of convection currents in the mantle is the cause of plate motion.


What forces cause the movement of the continents from one supercontinent to their present positions?

the movement of convection currents in the mantle is the cause of plate motion.


What kind of landforms can destructive plate movement cause?

Mountains, Continents, Volcanoes, Islands, and Fault Lines are the 5 landforms caused by plate movement.


What is it called when a plate movement cause rock to break?

it is called earthquake


What is a plume in hydrology?

In hydrology, a plume refers to a visible or measurable flow of one substance within another substance. For example, a plume of contaminant in groundwater refers to the movement of the contaminant within the groundwater. Plumes can be studied to track the movement of substances in water systems.


What is a volcanic area on a plate where plume of mantle material rises?

Mantle plum


What do vibrations from tectonic plate movement cause?

They chiefly cause earthquakes, and could also result to landslides and tsunamis.


What does movement along plate boundaries cause?

Earthquakes, volcanoes to erupt, mountains, etc...