Scientists Discover Volcanic Event Transformed Oceanic Plate, Impacting Global Environment
Researchers have uncovered that a significant volcanic event in Earth's history not only created a massive underwater plateau but also altered the structure and chemistry of the oceanic plate beneath it. Led by Lecturer Azusa Shito of Okayama University of Science, the team used seismic waves to study the deep structure beneath the Ontong Java Plateau. Their findings, published in Geophysical Research Letters, reveal that large volumes of magma penetrated the existing plate, forming networks of vertical intrusions and chemically transforming the surrounding rock. The Ontong Java Plateau, located beneath the western Pacific Ocean, is the world's largest oceanic plateau, formed approximately 110-120 million years ago. This event is considered the largest volcanic outpouring in Earth's history, potentially disrupting the global environment by altering ocean chemistry, climate, and oxygen levels in seawater. 
