Detecting old hotspot tracks in a stable continent remains challenging because of the lack of volcano chains on the surface and the fade of thermal anomalies with time. The northeastern American continent moved over the Cape Verde and the Great Meteor hotspots during 300–100 Ma. However, only the latter was confirmed by kimberlites and seismic velocity models. Our new 3D anisotropic model in northeastern America reveals strong positive radial anisotropy anomalies in the eastern Great Lakes, central Pennsylvania, and northwestern Virginia. These anomalies follow the Cape Verde hotspot track, providing the first geophysical evidence for the hotspot. A circular pattern of azimuthal anisotropy is also observed in the eastern Great Lakes and may be related to the Cape Verde plume activity. The plume was under the Great Lakes during 300–200 Ma and probably caused lithosphere thinning and low topography needed for forming the Lakes during the glacial era.

中文翻译：

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揭示横跨五大湖的佛得角热点路线


由于地表缺乏火山链，并且热异常会随着时间的推移而消失，因此在稳定的大陆中探测旧的热点轨迹仍然具有挑战性。美洲东北部大陆在 300-100 马期间移动过佛得角和大流星热点。然而，只有后者被金伯利岩和地震速度模型证实。我们在美洲东北部的新 3D 各向异性模型揭示了五大湖东部、宾夕法尼亚州中部和弗吉尼亚州西北部的强烈正径向各向异性异常。这些异常沿着佛得角热点路径，为热点提供了第一个地球物理证据。在东部五大湖中也观察到方位各向异性的圆形模式，可能与佛得角羽流活动有关。羽流在 300-200 马 期间位于五大湖下方，可能导致冰川时代形成湖泊所需的岩石圈变薄和低地形。