New Volcano Type Found in Pacific?

[Dover]

New Volcano Type Found in Pacific?
Brian Handwerk
for National Geographic News

July 27, 2006
A new type of volcano may be heating up the floor of the western Pacific Ocean.

Scientists suspect the new volcanoes occur at a crack in tectonic plates caused by stress as the plates slide past each other.

The group of small volcanoes, called petit spot volcanoes, was discovered far from the tectonic-plate boundaries (such as mid-oceanic ridges) that often spawn volcanoes, earthquakes, and other geologic activity.

Until now, scientists explained volcanoes located outside tectonic boundaries using mantle-plume theory. According to the theory, molten rock from deep within the Earth rises to the surface to produce these volcanoes.

But geoscientist Naoto Hirano's team suggests that the petit spot volcanoes are instead fueled by partially melted rock from much closer to the Earth's surface...cont'd

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/07/060727-new-volcano.html

[Warren DeMontague]

1. It's Jesus- but this time, he's coming UP! From UNDERGROUND!

Look out!

Oh, wait... that was that dumbass Tom Cruise War of the Worlds remake.