A team of geologists from the University of Maryland and the University of Hawaiʻi has successfully linked a massive volcanic eruption to its source deep beneath the Pacific Ocean. The eruption occurred on the Ontong-Java Plateau, a submerged seafloor platform in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, approximately 70 million years ago.
The plateau is roughly the size of Alaska and features several kilometers-thick lava flows. Scientists had long been curious about whether the Louisville hotspot, a region where hot material rises to the surface creating volcanoes, was responsible for both the underwater mountain chain bearing its name and the Ontong-Java Plateau.
However, previous attempts to establish a connection failed due to scientists searching in the wrong location. The team’s breakthrough came when they discovered a series of ancient underwater mountains near Samoa that were much older than expected. By analyzing rock samples from these areas, the researchers were able to reconstruct how the Pacific plate moved and revise current models for its motion.
Their findings suggest that the Pacific plate rotated slightly between 80-100 million years ago, allowing them to link the Ontong-Java Plateau to the Louisville hotspot despite a missing 20-million-year gap. The hotspot was active longer than previously thought, with much of the physical evidence having disappeared due to subduction under tectonic plates.
The discovery provides valuable insights into the Pacific’s volcanic history and helps scientists better understand volcanism dynamics in the region. This study offers a more accurate understanding of the Earth’s past, shedding light on the dynamic planet we live on today.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2025/04/30/following-ancient-volcanoes-scientists-track-mysterious-supereruption