A groundbreaking study published in Nature has finally solved a long-standing geological puzzle by linking two of the largest volcanic features on Earth, the Ontong-Java Plateau and the Louisville hotspot, to a single source. The research team from the University of Maryland and the University of Hawaiʻi discovered that the plateau originated from the same hotspot, providing a clear connection between these two massive geological features.
The study’s findings have significant implications for our understanding of Pacific plate motion and volcanic activity in the region. By analyzing rock samples from underwater mountains near Samoa, which were much older than expected, the team confirmed that these mountains were part of an ancient segment of the Louisville hotspot. This discovery helped trace the Ontong-Java Plateau to the same hotspot, proving that both features originated from the same source.
The breakthrough has revised existing models of Pacific plate motion and offered a more accurate picture of how the seafloor has shifted over time. The team used the tracking of volcanic “footprints,” which are remnants of ancient volcanic activity left behind as tectonic plates move over hotspots, to fill in the gaps of Pacific geological history.
According to Val Finlayson, corresponding author of the study, this discovery gives us a more complete history of how the Pacific Ocean basin has evolved over millions of years. The connection rewrites the history of volcanic activity in the Pacific region and challenges previous assumptions about the region’s dynamics and style of volcanism.
The team plans to apply their findings to other volcanic features around the world, hoping to uncover more about Earth’s tumultuous past and how it has shaped the planet we live on today. Despite this breakthrough, Finlayson emphasizes that there are still countless unanswered questions about volcanic activity in the Pacific and beyond, and this study has opened the door for future exploration.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/05/scientists-earth-largest-volcanic-eruption