What is the Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount Chain?
Q: What is the Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount Chain?
A: The Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount Chain is a vast underwater mountain region of islands, seamounts, atolls, shallows, banks and reefs stretching from the Aleutian Trench in the far northwest Pacific to the Loʻihi seamount near Hawaii.
Q: How long is the chain?
A: The chain stretches over 5,800 kilometres (3,600 mi).
Q: What is the oldest age for Emperor Seamounts?
A: The oldest age for Emperor Seamounts is 81 million years old and comes from Detroit Seamount.
Q: How was the Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount Chain created?
A: The Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount Chain was created by a hotspot of volcanic activity that stood as the Pacific tectonic plate moved over it. This left a trail of volcanic islands and seamounts.
Q: What caused a "bend" or "V" in the chain?
A: A "bend" or "V" in the chain marks a shift in the movement of the Pacific plate some 47 million years ago, from a northward to a more northwesterly direction.
Q: Where is Loʻihi located?
A: Loʻihi is located about 35 kilometres (22 mi) southeast of Hawaii's Island.
Q: Is there evidence that suggests that hotspot may have moved with time? A: Yes, recent research shows that there may be evidence suggesting that hotspot may have moved with time based on analysis of ancient magnetic fields preserved by magnetite found in lava flows sampled at four different seamounts.
