The Great Plume Debate Chapman Conference

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0540686NatlandA Chapman Conference, "The Great Plume Debate", will be held in Fort William,Scotland in August, 2005. A global debate is now in progress concerning the existenceof mantle plumes, the number of deep mantle plumes, and the viability of alternativemodels. Recent meetings have focused either on plume theory or alternatives, and it isnow timely to hold a discussion meeting that brings together representatives of both sidesof the debate. The primary objectives will be to:a) Clarify and define both the plume and alternative theories, their predictions and howthey may be tested;b) Match them against one another; andc) Identify the most important avenues of future research that may ultimately lead toresolution of the debate.The meeting will be balanced and structured to present both pro-plume and alternativepoints of view in sessions dealing with theory, mantle physics and dynamics, fieldevidence, age dating, seismology, temperature, petrology and geochemistry, andplanetary aspects. The conveners include two who are arranging the pro-plume side ofthe discussion, and two who are arranging the plume-skeptic side. The venue in Scotlandwas chosen to facilitate international participation, and to allow participation in fieldtrips. These will be to several of the major central volcanic complexes and intrusivecenters of the Scottish Hebrides that have long provided many of the important conceptsof igneous structural geology and petrogenesis in what is now termed the North AtlanticLarge Igneous Province.Average expenses for this meeting for US participants, based on the currentdollars to sterling exchange rate will be about $2100, including $1000 for air fare.Presently, there are 52 U.S. applicants who have submitted abstracts including 5 students.Many of these have requested financial assistance. This award ($20,000) will defray costs for 25 participants, especially students and young scientists, by an average amount of $800.