Fig. 5: Plume attributes with depth during ridge capture and de-anchoring.

The key variables used to calculate the plume buoyancy flux (excess temperature, plume area, upwelling velocity) are plotted with depth for ridge capture (a–d) and de-anchoring (e–h) in two separate plume–ridge interactions (note the x-axes have different scales). These correspond to the plume–ridge interactions documented in Figs. 2 and 3. The evolution of each variable is captured by a unique line colour representing the simulation time from 0 to 100 Myr in 20 Myr increments.