2. Volcanic islands that form over mantle plumes, such as the Hawaiian chain, are home to some of Earth's largest volcanoes. However, several volcanoes on Mars are gigantic compared to any on Earth. What does this difference tell us about the role of plate motion in shaping the Martian surface?

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Engineering

10 January, 00:26

2. Volcanic islands that form over mantle plumes, such as the Hawaiian chain, are home to some of Earth's largest volcanoes. However, several volcanoes on Mars are gigantic compared to any on Earth. What does this difference tell us about the role of plate motion in shaping the Martian surface?

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Marlon Hooper · Answer 1

The theory that explains this phenomenon is linked to the convergence of tectonic plates when there is immersion over the crazy oceanic ones. This movement could be referred to as an oceanic-oceanic convergence where the immersion of two ocean slabs occurs and one descends below another plate and initiates volcanic activity by the same mechanism that operates in all subduction zones.

In this way the movement of the plate on the Martian surface could be relatively much faster than the occurrence of the movement of the plate on Earth. Giant volcanoes form because the area of the most oceanic crust converges faster.