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Pacific plate motion change caused the Hawaiian-Emperor Bend
Trond H Torsvik1,2,3,4, Pavel V Doubrovine1, Bernhard Steinberger1,2
1Centre for Earth Evolution and Dynamics (CEED), University of Oslo, 0315 Oslo, Norway.
The Hawaiian-Emperor Bend resulted from a Pacific plate motion change around 47 million years ago, not solely from Hawaiian hotspot drift. Southward hotspot movement influenced seamount positions but did not cause the bend itself.
Area of Science:
- Geophysics
- Plate Tectonics
- Paleoceanography
Background:
- The Hawaiian-Emperor Chain's 60° bend is debated, with theories including Pacific plate motion shifts or Hawaiian hotspot drift.
- Previous paleomagnetic data from Emperor Seamounts were inconclusive regarding hotspot movement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the primary cause of the Hawaiian-Emperor Bend.
- To determine the relative contributions of Pacific plate motion and hotspot drift to the bend's formation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of paleomagnetic data from Emperor Seamounts.
- Mantle flow modeling to assess hotspot drift.
- Geodynamic reconstructions of Pacific plate motion.
Main Results:
- Southward Hawaiian hotspot drift (4-9° between 80-47 Ma) is supported by mantle flow models.
- This drift explains the northerly positions of Emperor Seamounts but not the bend itself.
- A significant Pacific plate motion change around 47 Ma is necessary to explain the Hawaiian-Emperor Bend.
Conclusions:
- Southward hotspot drift alone cannot account for the Hawaiian-Emperor Bend.
- The bend formation is primarily attributed to a major change in Pacific plate motion direction approximately 47 million years ago.
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