Hotspot (geology)

An example of mantle plume locations suggested by one group.^[1]

Diagram showing a cross section though the Earth's lithosphere (in yellow) with magma rising from the mantle (in red).

In geology, a hotspot or hot spot is a portion of the Earth's surface which is volcanic. This may be caused by a rising mantle plume or some other cause.^[2] Hotspots may be far from tectonic plate boundaries.

A volcanic hotspot is where magma pushes up from deep in the Earth's crust or mantle, and creates a volcano. The Earth's plates may move along, creating a new volcano above the hotspot while moving the older volcanoes away. This creates a chain of islands, such as in Hawaii.

↑ Courtillot V. et al 2003. Three distinct types of hotspots in the Earth's mantle (2003). "Three distinct types of hotspots in the Earth's mantle". Earth Sci. Planet. Lett. 205 (3–4): 295–308. Bibcode:2003E&PSL.205..295C. doi:10.1016/S0012-821X(02)01048-8.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
↑ "Do plumes exist?". Archived from the original on 2011-01-19. Retrieved 2010-04-25.

[Courtillot_2003_295–308-1] Courtillot V. et al 2003. Three distinct types of hotspots in the Earth's mantle (2003). "Three distinct types of hotspots in the Earth's mantle". Earth Sci. Planet. Lett. 205 (3–4): 295–308. Bibcode:2003E&PSL.205..295C. doi:10.1016/S0012-821X(02)01048-8.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[plumes-2] "Do plumes exist?". Archived from the original on 2011-01-19. Retrieved 2010-04-25.

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