Statistical self‐similarity of hotspot seamount volumes modeled as self‐similar criticality

The processes responsible for hotspot seamount formation are complex, yet the cumulative frequency‐volume distribution of hotspot seamounts in the Easter Island/Salas y Gomez Chain (ESC) is found to be well‐described by an upper‐truncated power law. We develop a model for hotspot seamount formation where uniform energy input produces events initiated on a self‐similar distribution of critical cells. We call this model Self‐Similar Criticality (SSC). By allowing the spatial distribution of magma migration to be self‐similar, the SSC model recreates the observed ESC seamount volume distribution. The SSC model may have broad applicability to other natural systems.