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Antipodal hotspot pairs on the earthThe results of statistical analyses performed on three published hotspot distributions suggest that significantly more hotspots occur as nearly antipodal pairs than is anticipated from a random distribution, or from their association with geoid highs and divergent plate margins. The observed number of antipodal hotspot pairs depends on the maximum allowable deviation from exact antipodality. At a maximum deviation of not greater than 700 km, 26 to 37 percent of hotspots form antipodal pairs in the published lists examined here, significantly more than would be expected from the general hotspot distribution. Two possible mechanisms that might create such a distribution include: (1) symmetry in the generation of mantle plumes, and (2) melting related to antipodal focusing of seismic energy from large-body impacts.
Document ID
19930030948
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Rampino, Michael R.
(New York Univ.; NASA, Goddard Inst. for Space Studies, NY, United States)
Caldeira, Ken
(Pennsylvania State Univ. University Park, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
October 23, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 19
Issue: 20
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
93A14945
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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