Scientists Confirm Existence of Largest Single Volcano On Earth

Scientists Confirm Existence of Largest Single Volcano On Earth

Issues: Global

Summarize: Scientists from the University of Houston uncovered what is believed to be the largest single volcano on the entire earth, which was named the Tamu Massif. It was discovered to be the biggest geological feature of Shatsky Rise, an underwater mountain range formed 130 to 145 million years ago. It was initially believed to be formed by a vast number of individual volcanoes, but we now know that it is actually a single volcano. It is located about 1,000 miles east of Japan and not only is about the size of New Mexico, but ranks itself among the largest volcanoes in the Solar System!!! The biggest volcano in the Solar System, Olympus Mons on Mars, it only about 25 percent larger than Tamu Massif! One interesting aspect of the volcano itself is in its shape. It is very strange in its extremely gradual slope. "In fact, if you were standing on its flank, you would have trouble telling which way is downhill." Scientists say that this uniqueness could enable us to understand exactly how these massive volcanos form.

Opinion: I think that we should certainly continue our research on this volcano, as well as other massive volcanoes on Earth. It is always best to understand our Earth so we can protect it, or protect ourselves from it. If this volcano possesses such a vast amount of knowledge about super-volcanoes around the world that we can use, why not continue to study them.

Definition:

 Ontong Java Plateau-An enormous oceanic plateau in the Pacific Ocean, it is equal in size to about 1% of the Earth's surface and is around the size of Alaska. It was formed 120-125 million years ago and once extruded 100 million km^3 of magma in one of the largest volcanic events to occur in the last 300 million years.