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GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Todays Class
Lecture:
Triple Junctions Stability
Hot Spots
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Triple Junctions
Points where three plate
boundaries meet are called
triple junctions.
Triple junctions may move
(migrate) and change the
tectonic environment.
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Triple Junctions
R = Ridge
F = transform Fault
T = subduction zone
(Trench)
A triple junction is stable if
the relative motions of
three plates their
geometry do not change
over time.
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
Example: RTF Junction
In a circuit about a
triple junction an
observer must return
to the starting point
the vector diagram of
the interplate
velocities is a closed
triangle
A
V
B
+
B
V
C
+
C
V
A
= 0




6
! "
6
" #
6
# !
!
"
#
A B
SUBDUCTION
ZONE TRENCH
TRANSFORM
FAULT
RIDGE
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
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GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Triple Junction Stability
Stability of a TJ is assessed
by considering how it can
move along any of its (three)
plate boundaries
A TJ lies at the intersection
of the three velocity lines for
the three plate boundaries.
If these three lines intersect,
the TJ is stable. If not, it is
unstable and will evolve into
a different plate geometry.
A
B
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Velocity Line for a Trench
Consider marbles rolling along a trench at different velocities
They will plot on a velocity diagram on a line passing
through the velocity of the upper plate (because the trench
moves with the overthrust plate) and trending in the same
direction as (so: parallel to) the trench
does not require that convergence velocity be perpendicular to trench
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Velocity Line for a Transform Fault
Consider marbles rolling along transform at different velocities
They will plot on a velocity diagram on a line passing through
both plates (because the transform does not move with respect
to either plate) and trending in the same direction as (so:
parallel to) the transform
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Velocity Line for a Ridge
Consider marbles rolling along ridge at different velocities
They will plot on a velocity diagram on a line trending in the
same direction as (so: parallel to) the ridge and (if the
spreading is symmetrical and perpendicular to the ridge) that
is the perpendicular bisector of the velocity vector between the
two plates
A
B
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Triple
Junction
Stability
A TJ lies at the intersection of the three lines: ab, bc and ac for the
three plate boundaries.
If these three lines intersect, the TJ is stable. If not, it is unstable
and will evolve into a different plate geometry.
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Triple
Junction
Stability
A TJ lies at the intersection of the three lines: ab, bc and ac for the
three plate boundaries.
If these three lines intersect, the TJ is stable. If not, it is unstable
and will evolve into a different plate geometry.
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GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Triple
Junction
Stability
A TJ lies at the intersection of the three lines: ab, bc and ac for the
three plate boundaries.
If these three lines intersect, the TJ is stable. If not, it is unstable
and will evolve into a different plate geometry.
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Another Example
Draw the velocity space diagram and determine
whether this is a stable triple junction, or not. Keep
C fixed.
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Volcanism Within Plates: Hot Spots
Mantle plumes and hotspots
Linear chains of volcanoes or volcanic islands
Systematic variation of age
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Hot Spots: Hawaii
Hotspots are
stationary, deeply
anchored columns of
hot material
Lithospheric plate
moves over the
hotspot
Creates a row of
volcanoes
progressively older
toward one end
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Formation of Hot Spot Volcanoes
60o
50o
40o
30o
20o
10o
160oE
160oE
180o
180o
160oW
160oW
140o
140o
120o
120o
60o
50o
40o
30o
20o
10o
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GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Big Island
Kauai
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GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
Plate
Velocities
Dating of basalt samples helps determine plate
velocities and directions
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
60o
50o
40o
30o
20o
10o
160oE
160oE
180o
180o
160oW
160oW
140o
140o
120o
120o
60o
50o
40o
30o
20o
10o
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Havaii
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Havaiian Ridgo
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GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
Hot Spot
Reference Frame
Results from other
hotspots suggest
they form a
stationary network
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Movement on a Spherical Earth
Eulers theorem:
Every displacement of a plate from one position to another on
the Earth's surface can be regarded as a rotation of that plate
about a suitably chosen axis, which passes through the centre
of the Earth and cuts through the Earths surface at the Euler
pole or pole of rotation.
The Euler pole does not have to be the
North Pole!
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
Geometry of constructive boundary at which two plates are
separating.
Note that whilst rotation angle remains same along length of split,
width of gap increases with angular distance from pole of rotation.
What effect does this have on local spreading rates along length of
plate boundary?
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Rotation Vectors
The relative velocity v between two plates is:
v = R sin
And thus is 0 at the rotation poles and maximum ( R) at
90 from the poles.
Given rotation vectors, you can calculate the relative motion
at a plate boundary.
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
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GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Relative Plate Motions
What does the change in spreading rate along the mid Atlantic
ridge tell you about location of the pole of rotation?
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Determination of Euler
Poles
The motion of plate 1 relative to plate 2
must be a rotation about an Euler pole.
The strike of a transform fault is parallel to
the relative motion between the two
plates.
=> All transform faults on the plate
boundary must be small circles about
that pole.
=> Orientation of transform faults can be
used to locate the Euler pole
GSC307
Introduction to Global Geophysics
10/10/11 Cal Poly Pomona
Determination
of Euler Poles
Lines (great circles) at right angles to
transform faults will pass through the pole
of rotation.
Using this method, the pole of rotation of the
South American Plate can be shown to be
located in the North Atlantic, south of
Greenland.