Plate Tectonics Exercise (Part I)

Introduction:

As discussed in our textbook, the speed at which tectonic plates move has been calculated in several
ways over the last 40 years. Recent satellite technology allows us to determine precise distances and
changes in distances on extremely fine scales of time and space. We can determine current plate
movements for most areas of the globe.

In order to calculate AVERAGE plate movements over longer periods of time, we must rely on other
methods. The record of magnetic field reversals in oceanic lava flows can be converted to a time clock
by matching the pattern of magnetic changes in these rocks with the same pattern (radiometrically
dated) in basalts erupted on land. By using magnetometers on ships, scientists do not need to dive down
and collect seafloor specimens to test and to date; instead the magnetic record on the seafloor can be
determined from simple shipboard measurements. By knowing times and distances, we can then
calculate how fast the seafloor has spread away from divergent plate boundaries.

Another major means of calculating plate velocities is tracking the volcanic "footprints" of hot spots as
tectonic plates move across them. We assume that a "hot spot" originates from a relatively stationary
source deep within the Earth's mantle. As plates move, these deep-seated plumes "burn" new spots on
the plates. These spots might be volcanic islands in the ocean or volcanic landforms on continents.

The hot mantle plume is like a lit match. Hold a piece of paper over it and it will begin to burn a hole in
that paper. Move the paper slowly and the match will burn a series of holes in the paper, the oldest
"burn” being the one farthest away from the match. The "age" of the burns and their distance from the
match can tell us how fast the paper has moved over it. P.S. DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME.

The Hawaiian Islands, the Galapagos Islands, and Yellowstone National Park are examples of "hot spots."
In this activity we will use readily available information for each of these geologic paradises in order to
estimate how fast three specific tectonic plates have moved over the time of the last millions of years.

Part I: Hawaiian Islands Hot Spot

While visiting Hawaii in the 1960's, Tuzo Wilson, one of the founders of the theory of plate tectonics,
noticed some interesting features about ocean islands. On a map of the Pacific basin, he found three
linear chains of volcanoes and submarine volcanoes (seamounts). As shown below, these are the (1)
Hawaii Islands -Emperor Seamounts; (2) The Pitcairn Island - Tuamotu Group; and (3) the Macdonald
Seamount - Austral Group. Notice that the eastern most island or seamount of each chain is volcanically
active.

As we can see, although separated by thousands of miles, the three linear chains are parallel to each
other. Of the three, the Hawaii-Emperor seamount chain was the most well known. Wilson reviewed the
reports that had been published on these island chains and recorded the age of each island in the
Hawaiian chain. An interesting pattern emerged. For each chain, the islands become progressively
younger to the southeast. Active volcanoes mark the extreme southeast end of each chain. Wilson
proposed that the Hawaiian Islands formed successively over a common source of magma called a hot
spot. The Island of Hawaii is currently located above the hot spot.

Hot, solid rock rises to the hot spot from greater depths (see the sketch below). Due to the lower
pressure at the shallower depth, the rock begins to melt, forming magma. The magma rises through the
Pacific Plate to supply the active volcanoes. The older islands were once located above the stationary
hot spot but were carried away as the Pacific Plate drifted to the northwest.

Activity I: Hawaiian Islands Hot Spot

Plate Tectonics Exercise (Part I

Acitivity II: Average velocity of the Pacific Plate

This next activity determines the average rate that the Pacific Plate has moved over the last 65 million
years.

The ages of the islands and seamounts increase with distance away from the Hawaiian hot spot. This
table shows these ages and distances for islands and seamounts in the Hawaiian - Emperor chain.
Question #1

Plot this data on the graph provided. Once the points are plotted on the graph, use a ruler to draw a
straight line that starts at the origin and most closely goes near all the data points (this is called a "best-
fit" line). Determine the slope of the line (pick any point on the line and divide the distance value by the
time value). This slope is equal to the average rate of plate motion. As determined from your work, this
rate is __________________ kilometers / million years.

Question #2

Convert your answer to cm/yr (centimeters / year):

Question #3

Has the Pacific Plate been moving slower or faster over the last 5 million years than it has in the past?
Explain.

Question #4

The trajectory of plate motion points toward Hokkaido on the northern part of the Japanese Island
chain, 6,300 km (3,900 mi) away. A subduction zone offshore of Japan consumes the Pacific plate, which
is partly melted to create the volcanoes of Japan. If the "Plate Tectonic Express" operates without
change, the Big Island of Hawaii will be headed down the Japanese trench. How long will it take Hawaii
to reach Japan? Show your work.