Easter Volcanic Chain (Southeast Pacific): A Mantle Hot Line.

摘要

A continuous chain of volcanic islands and seamounts extends on the Nazca plate eastward from the Easter and Sala y Gomez islands to the islands of San Felix and San Ambrosio, off the coast of Chile (Easter line), in a latitudinal band about 200 km wide. A similar chain of seamounts and islands probably extends west of Easter Island on the Pacific plate up to Pitcairn Island, which was recently active. The hypothesis that Easter Island marks the site of a fixed mantle hot spot responsible for these chains is tested here.