A 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 existence of mantle plumes, the number of deep mantle plumes, and the viability of alternative models. Recent meetings have focused either on plume theory or alternatives, and it is now timely to hold a discussion meeting that brings together representatives of both sides of the debate. The primary objectives will be to:
a) Clarify and define both the plume and alternative theories, their predictions and how they may be tested; b) Match them against one another; and c) Identify the most important avenues of future research that may ultimately lead to resolution of the debate.
The meeting will be balanced and structured to present both pro-plume and alternative points of view in sessions dealing with theory, mantle physics and dynamics, field evidence, age dating, seismology, temperature, petrology and geochemistry, and planetary aspects. The conveners include two who are arranging the pro-plume side of the discussion, and two who are arranging the plume-skeptic side. The venue in Scotland was chosen to facilitate international participation, and to allow participation in field trips. These will be to several of the major central volcanic complexes and intrusive centers of the Scottish Hebrides that have long provided many of the important concepts of igneous structural geology and petrogenesis in what is now termed the North Atlantic Large Igneous Province.
Average expenses for this meeting for US participants, based on the current dollars 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.
