A satellite returns images of the surface of a distant planet. Conical volcanoes are clearly visible on the images. How can you determine whether this planet experiences plate tectonics, plumes, or both based on the distribution of visible volcanoes?

What will be an ideal response?


If active volcanoes form narrow, concentrated zones, it is likely that the volcanoes are associated with plate boundary processes. If the volcanoes are more randomly scattered over the planet surface, then they are more likely produced by plumes. If chains of volcanoes are observed, with the only active volcanoes being concentrated at one end of the chain, this might be evidence of a hot-spot track, which would be consistent with both plates and plumes.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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