Data Analysis

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Data Analysis
The Data Analysis section is intended to encourage students to practice describing and interpreting patterns in spatial data.

This activity contains 6 questions.

Review this map of the Hawaiian hot spot track across the Pacific Ocean. Islands are shown in orange, and seamounts (islands not quite reaching above the surface of the ocean) are shown in shades of purple. Answer the following questions.
AACWVJN0 copy.jpg

AACWVJN0 copy.jpg

In millions of years (my), the age of the rock collected at each location on the map is as follows: A) Hawaii - 0.4my, B) Midway Island - 27.7my, C) Koko Seamount - 48.1my, and D) Suiko Seamount - 59.6my. Without trying to explain the pattern, describe what is scientifically significant about the data. (Hint: This is pretty simple, but it is imperative in science to describe patterns before trying to explain them.)

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

The traditional explanation of such island chains is that they are caused by stationary plumes of magma (hot spots) rising from the mantle and extruding onto the ocean floor. Through this process, the hot spot literally burns through the lithosphere and builds an island. After several hundred thousand years, the plate moves away, carrying the now extinct island with it. This, in turn, allows a new island to form, and the process continues. Considering this, why do you think the oldest islands (seamounts) are no longer above the surface of the ocean? What has happened to them during millions of years of extinction?

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

The distance between Midway Island and Hawaii is 2700 kilometers (km). Using this distance and the ages of the rocks provided above, calculate the rate of movement of the plate. Hint: The formula is as follows:

(distance between islands in km) x (100,000 cm/km) / (the age difference between the rocks) = ??cm/yr)

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

Now, repeat these calculations for the Koko and Suiko Seamounts. They are 1600km apart. What answer do you get?

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

What can you infer from these two calculations about the present and past speed of the Pacific Plate?

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

Scientists now feel that stationary mantle plumes are not necessarily stationary. How does this affect your conclusions?

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

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