Evidence for mantle plumes?
Geophysical hotspots have been attributed to partially molten asthenosphere, fertile blobs, small-scale convection and upwellings driven by core heat. Most are short-lived or too close together to be deeply seated, and do not have anomalous heat flow or temperature; many are related to tectonic features. Bourdon et al. investigate the dynamics of mantle plumes from uranium-series geochemistry and interpret their results as evidence for thermal plumes. Here we show why alternative mechanisms of upwelling and melting should be considered.
Anderson
Don L
DL
Seismological Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, MC 252-21, Pasadena, California 91125, USA. dla@gps.caltech.edu
Natland
James H
JH