<P> Wilson proposed that mantle convection produces small , hot buoyant upwellings under the Earth 's surface ; these thermally active mantle plumes supply magma which in turn sustains long - lasting volcanic activity . This `` mid-plate '' volcanism builds peaks that rise from relatively featureless sea floor , initially as seamounts and later as fully - fledged volcanic islands . The local tectonic plate ( in the case of the Hawaii hotspot , the Pacific Plate ) slowly slides over the hotspot , carrying its volcanoes with it without affecting the plume . Over hundreds of thousands of years , the magma supply for the volcano is slowly cut off , eventually going extinct . No longer active enough to overpower erosion , the volcano slowly sinks beneath the waves , becoming a seamount once again . As the cycle continues , a new volcanic center manifests , and a volcanic island arises anew . The process continues until the mantle plume itself collapses . </P>
<P> Wilson proposed that mantle convection produces small , hot buoyant upwellings under the Earth 's surface ; these thermally active mantle plumes supply magma which in turn sustains long - lasting volcanic activity . This `` mid-plate '' volcanism builds peaks that rise from relatively featureless sea floor , initially as seamounts and later as fully - fledged volcanic islands . The local tectonic plate ( in the case of the Hawaii hotspot , the Pacific Plate ) slowly slides over the hotspot , carrying its volcanoes with it without affecting the plume . Over hundreds of thousands of years , the magma supply for the volcano is slowly cut off , eventually going extinct . No longer active enough to overpower erosion , the volcano slowly sinks beneath the waves , becoming a seamount once again . As the cycle continues , a new volcanic center manifests , and a volcanic island arises anew . The process continues until the mantle plume itself collapses . </P>
the state of hawai'i is located on which tectonic plate
the state of hawai'i is located on which tectonic plate
the Pacific Plate
the Pacific Plate