The bend in the Emperor-Hawaii seamount chain was caused by a change in Pacific plate motion
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 64/100
While some recent studies emphasize the contributory role of Hawaiian hotspot migration, the consensus in the literature strongly supports the view that the bend in the Emperor-Hawaii seamount chain was primarily driven by a significant change in Pacific plate motion around 47 Ma.
Evidence for · 4
Pacific plate motion change caused the Hawaiian-Emperor Bend
2017 · cited by 91
The authors demonstrate that formation of the Hawaiian-Emperor Bend cannot be explained without invoking a prominent change in the direction of Pacific plate motion around 47 Ma.
Evidence against · 1
Hotspot motion caused the Hawaiian-Emperor Bend and LLSVPs are not fixed.
2019 · cited by 13
This study argues that the Hawaiian-Emperor chain bend morphology was primarily caused by hotspot motion rather than plate motion.
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More for · 3
Prediction of Emperor-Hawaii seamount locations from a revised model of global plate motion and mantle flow.
2004 · cited by 29
Global mantle reconstructions combined with plate motions explain the bend, affirming the role of Pacific plate motion changes alongside mantle flow.
Dynamics of longitudinal Hawaiian hotspot motion and the formation of the Hawaiian-Emperor Bend.
2025 · cited by 1
The model shows that both plate motion change and longitudinal/latitudinal hotspot motion are required, confirming plate motion as a major contributor.
Quantifying the contributions of Pacific Plate motion change and hotspot drift to the formation of Hawaiian-Emperor Bend
2022 · cited by 0
The study quantifies the contributions of Pacific plate motion change and hotspot drift, confirming that plate motion change plays a crucial role in forming the bend.