Melt dynamics of a layered mantle plume source

The supply rates of basaltic magma to volcanoes restrict the flow rates within their mantle sources. Layered source regions consisting of alternating layers of melt and residuum have permeabilities that are orders of magnitude larger than percolative sources. Relevant supply rates for Hawaiian volcanoes are obtained for source permeabilities within the range 10⁻⁴–10⁻² cm². The results are within the range for layered sources, suggesting that a layered source is a physically viable model for Hawaiian plume sources. Received: 4 March 1997 / Accepted: 23 April 1998