The mystery of the underwater formation of the Ontong Java Plateau in the Pacific has been solved
Key Points
- Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a new model explaining the underwater formation of the Ontong Java Plateau.
- The mystery of the plateau, which formed approximately 120 million years ago, was illuminated by a study published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
- According to scientists, the plateau was formed by a thermochemical mantle plume that was hotter and chemically different from its surroundings.
- It was reported that the newly developed model could also be used to explain the formation of other large oceanic plateaus around the world.
By the Numbers
Scientists have solved the mystery of the formation of the Ontong Java Plateau, which is located under the Pacific Ocean and is considered one of the world's largest volcanic oceanic plateaus. The study, conducted by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and published in the journal Nature Geoscience, revealed why the massive structure largely remained underwater.
The fact that the plateau, formed as a result of intense volcanic activity approximately 120 million years ago, remained underwater could not be explained by the classical geological models used to date. According to classical theories, such a formation should have risen above sea level, but data obtained from the field proved the contrary.
Using advanced computer simulations, researchers stated that the plateau's formation was provided by a thermochemical mantle plume that was hotter and had a different chemical structure than its surroundings. Scientists state that this new model can also be used to understand the formation processes of other large oceanic plateaus on Earth.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Where and when did the Ontong Java Plateau form?
- The Ontong Java Plateau, one of the world's largest volcanic oceanic plateaus, is located in the western Pacific Ocean and was formed approximately 120 million years ago as a result of intense volcanic activity.
- What mystery did scientists solve regarding the formation of this plateau?
- While classical theories suggested that the plateau should have risen above sea level, geological evidence showed that the structure largely remained underwater. Researchers solved the mystery by explaining this inconsistency with the thermochemical mantle plume model.
- Where else can this newly developed model be used?
- According to researchers, this new model, based on the thermochemical mantle plume, can also be used to explain the formation processes of other large oceanic plateaus in different parts of the world.
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