Plates vs plumes: a geological controversy

Since the advent of the mantle plume hypothesis in 1971, scientists have been faced with the problem that its predictions are not confirmed by observation. For thirty years, the usual reaction has been to adapt the hypothesis in numerous ways. As a result, the multitude of current plume variants now amounts to an unfalsifiable hypothesis. In the early 21st century demand became relentless for a theory that can explain melting anomalies in a way that fits the observations naturally and is forward-predictive. From this the Plate hypothesis emerged-the exact inverse of the Plume hypothesis. The P

Includes bibliographical references and index

5.5.3 Structure beneath extinct melting anomalies, and elsewhere.

Plates vs. Plumes: A Geological Controversy; Contents; Preface; 1: From plate tectonics to plumes, and back again; 1.1 Volcanoes, and exceptional volcanoes; 1.2 Early beginnings: Continental drift and its rejection; 1.3 Emergence of the Plume hypothesis; 1.4 Predictions of the Plume hypothesis; 1.5 Lists of plumes; 1.6 Testing plume predictions; 1.7 A quick tour of Hawaii and Iceland; 1.8 Moving on: Holism and alternatives; 1.9 The Plate hypothesis; 1.10 Predictions of the Plate hypothesis; 1.11 Testing the Plate hypothesis; 1.12 Revisiting Hawaii and Iceland; 1.13 Questions and problems.

1.14 Exercises for the student2: Vertical motions; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Predictions of the Plume hypothesis; 2.3 Predictions of the Plate hypothesis; 2.4 Comparison of the predictions of the Plume and Plate hypotheses; 2.5 Observations; 2.5.1 Classifying melting anomalies; 2.5.2 Volcanic chains with initial flood basalts; 2.5.3 Volcanic chains without initial flood basalts; 2.5.4 Active flood basalt provinces lacking volcanic chains; 2.5.5 Extinct flood basalt provinces lacking volcanic chains; 2.5.6 Vertical motions without flood basalt magmatism; 2.6 Plume variants; 2.7 Discussion.

2.8 Exerc…