The Hawaiian Islands formed over a stationary hot spot. This means that hot molten magma from deep within the mantle erupted onto the surface of the ocean floor, forming an underwater volcano, or seamount. As the volcano continued to grow, it eventually emerged above sea level, forming an island arc. The first island to form over the hot spot was Kauai Island. The island sits at the northernmost section along the chain, is now an extinct volcano, and contains the oldest rocks of the Hawaiian Islands. Maui is also an extinct volcano. It has much younger rocks than Kauai but older than the Big Island. Hawai'i is the southernmost island, has active volcanoes, and contains the youngest rocks of all the islands. By understanding that the Hawaiian Islands formed over a stationary hot spot, the youngest rocks are found on the actively-erupting Hawai'i island, and that rocks become progressively older as you move northwest helps support what theory?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The formation of the Hawaiian Islands over a stationary hot spot is consistent with the Plate Tectonics Theory, which proposes that the Earth's surface is composed of several large plates that move and interact with each other. The Hawaiian Islands formed as the Pacific Plate moved over a stationary hot spot in the mantle, creating a chain of islands that become progressively older as you move northwest.

The Hawaiian Islands Formed Over a Stationary Hot Spot