plume tail

plural plume tails · alternative plumetail

1. geographyThe narrow, column-like structure of a mantle plume, thought to cause continued hot spot volcanism after the plume head dissipates.

   Two sorts of uplift pattern and igneous activity should result from plume activity depending on whether the lithosphere migrates over a plume head or plume tail.

   2005, Philip A. Allen, John A. Allen, Basin Analysis: Principles and Applications, page 108

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   The comparatively short initial eruptive phase is followed by tens of millions of years of less voluminous activity, as the plume tail slowly rises to the surface.

   2002, Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Earth: Introduction to Physical Geology, 7th edition, page 127

   The residual plume tail may remain active for tens of millions of years and, as plates move across the surface, it may form strings of volcanoes thousands of kilometers long such as those of Hawaii.

   2003, Francis Albarède, Geochemistry: An Introduction, page 139