Pushes Its Way to the Surface and Pokes Through at a Weak Spot in the Crust

Name ______Class ______

The Hawaiian Islands which are located in the south Pacific Ocean have been forming over what is called a hot spot. A plume, which is a column of hot lava, pushes its way to the surface and pokes through at a weak spot in the crust. Hot spots are rare. Hawaii is the best example located in an ocean. Yellowstone National Park with its boiling mud and geysers is located under a continent.

Put a dot in the middle of each of the islands found in the right hand box above Fill in the information in the box below. I have done the first one for you Figure out the rate by dividing the km by the year Figure out the last column (move the decimal left one place and change km/MY to cm/year) Make sure to put the units

Distance /Time data for the Hawaiian Islands From Hawaii to Distance (km) Time (years) Rate (km/MY) Rate (cm/year) Maui 100.0 km 1.32 MY 75.8 km per MY 7.58 cm/year Molokai Oahu Kauai Answer the following questions

1. Which direction is the plate moving? ______

2. Why are the rates not consistent using what you know about plate tectonics.

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3. The chain is actually longer but past Kauai they are below the surface. Why?

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4. If you were standing on the Big Island of Hawaii which direction would you have to look to see the next island appear?

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5. If the islands were once volcanoes, how did they get trees on them?

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