Question

several characteristics of supervolcanoes and hot spots are listed below.
i. 3 active in the united states - yellowstone, long valley, and valles caldera
ii. occur in the middle of a plate
iii. formed the hawaiian islands
iv. eruption of magnitude 8 or greater
v. location where magma rises upward until it erupts on the seafloor
which of the characteristics describe hot spots only?
a i and iv
b ii, iii, and v
c i, ii, and iv
d ii and iii

Explanation:

Hot - spot volcanism occurs in the middle of a plate (II). The Hawaiian Islands were formed by a hot - spot (III). Characteristics I (Yellowstone, Long Valley, Valles Caldera are supervolcanoes, not typical hot - spot volcanoes in terms of formation mechanism which is more related to mantle plumes but Yellowstone is a supervolcano over a hot - spot, however, the key for hot - spot only is the plate - middle location and formation of Hawaiian - like features). Characteristics IV (eruption of magnitude 8 or greater) is more related to supervolcanoes (which can be over hot - spots but not exclusive to hot - spots). Characteristic V (magma rising until it erupts on the seafloor) is more related to mid - ocean ridge volcanism (divergent plate boundaries) rather than hot - spots. So the characteristics that describe hot - spots only are II (occur in the middle of a plate) and III (formed the Hawaiian Islands).

Answer:

D. II and III