View of the Hawaiian Islands from the International Space Station (IMAGE)

Arizona State University

View of the Hawaiian Islands from the International Space Station

Caption

A group of former and current Arizona State University researchers say chemical differences found between rocks samples at volcanic hotspots around the world can be explained by a model of mantle dynamics that involves plumes, upwellings of abnormally hot rock within the Earth's mantle, that originate in the lower mantle and physically interact with chemically distinct piles of material.

Credit

NASA/Jeff Schmaltz/LANCE/EOSDIS MODIS Rapid Response Team/GSFC

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