The Hawaiian Emperor seamount chain is a well-known example of a large seamount and island chain created by hotspot volcanism. Each island or submerged seamount in the chain is successively older toward the northwest. Near Hawaii, the age progression from island to island can be used to calculate the motion of the Pacific Oceanic plate toward the northwest. The youngest seamount of the Hawaiian chain is Loihi, which presently is erupting from its summit at a depth of 1000 m. Image courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey.
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GalAPAGoS: Where Ridge Meets Hotspot: What Is A Hotspot?
