Editing Volcano (section)

===Hotspots===
{{Main|Hotspot (geology)}}

[[Hotspot (geology)|Hotspots]] are volcanic areas thought to be formed by [[mantle plume]]s, which are hypothesized to be columns of hot material rising from the core-mantle boundary. As with mid-ocean ridges, the rising mantle rock experiences decompression melting which generates large volumes of magma. Because tectonic plates move across mantle plumes, each volcano becomes inactive as it drifts off the plume, and new volcanoes are created where the plate advances over the plume. The [[Hawaiian Islands]] are thought to have been formed in such a manner, as has the [[Snake River Plain]], with the [[Yellowstone Caldera]] being part of the North American plate currently above the [[Yellowstone hotspot]].{{sfn|Schmincke|2003|pp=18,106-107}}<ref name=bgs/> However, the mantle plume hypothesis has been questioned.<ref name=Foulger>{{cite book|title=Plates vs. Plumes: A Geological Controversy|last1=Foulger|first1=Gillian R.|year=2010|isbn=978-1-4051-6148-0|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell}}</ref>