SCIEGraphic ACTIVITY: It's Hot, Hot, "Hot Spot"

Study the presented images, analyze, and answer the guide questions in your Science notebook.

Diagram Labels:
- Kauai
- Sea level
- Qahu
- Maui
- Crust
- Direction of plate movement
- Mantle
- Zone of magma generation
- Hot Spot
- Diagram modified from Maurice Kraft's drawing
- Hawaii

Guide Questions:

1. What is the first volcano formed?
2. What is the second volcano formed?
3. What is the most recent/last volcano formed?
4. Which volcano is the oldest?
5. Which volcano is the youngest?
6. Why does it happen that there's a series or chain of volcanoes in one place?
7. What do you call this place where the chain of volcanoes is formed?

The Hawaiian islands were formed by volcanic activity related to a hot spot beneath the Pacific plate. As the Pacific plate moves northwest over this hot spot, it creates a series of volcanoes that results in a chain of islands.

What is the first volcano formed?
The first volcano formed in the Hawaiian island chain is Niihau, located to the northwest.
What is the second volcano formed?
The second volcano formed is Kaua'i, which is the next island in the chain moving southeast from Niihau.
What is the recent/last volcano formed?
The most recent volcano formed is Lōʻihi, which is still submerged and located east of Hawai'i Island.
Which among the volcano is the oldest?
The oldest volcano is
Niihau, as it is the furthest northwest and was formed first as the plate moved over the hot spot.
Which among the volcano is the youngest?
The youngest volcano is Hawai'i (the Big Island), located to the southeast, where active volcanoes like Kilauea and Mauna Loa still erupt today.
Why does it happen that there's a series of volcanoes or a chain of volcanoes in one place?
A chain of volcanoes forms due to the movement of tectonic plates over a stationary hot spot. As the plate moves, the hot spot continues to release magma, creating new volcanoes while older ones become inactive.
What do you call this place where the chain of volcanoes are formed?
This geological feature is called a hot spot, a location where magma from the Earth's mantle has melted through the crust, resulting in volcanic activity.