Paleomagnetism is the study of changes in Earth's magnetic field as shown by patterns of magnetism in rocks formed over time. It supports the theory of plate tectonics by showing how Earth's magnetic field, which can be normal or reversed polarity, is recorded in rocks and how this has changed as continents moved over geologic time. Hot spots are concentrations of heat in the mantle capable of producing magma and rising to Earth's surface, providing additional evidence for plate tectonics.