Scientists find the Earth’s largest, hottest volcano

Pujahonu, a shield volcano located in the central northern Pacific near Honolulu, is mostly submerged with only a third of its volume above sea level, forming the Gardner Pinnacles. It is twice the size of Mauna Loa, the former largest known volcano. Research published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters reveals that the research vessel Foul Core used sonar and gravity mapping to chart the ocean, discovering that Pujahonu's size is due to abundant magma from a hot spot in the mantle. The high temperature of the magma is indicated by its high forsterite content. Pujahonu's massive size caused the Earth's crust and mantle to buckle, submerging most of the volcano.

What is the location of the Pujahonu volcano?

• In the central northern Pacific near Honolulu

• In the southern Atlantic near Cape Town

• In the Indian Ocean near Madagascar

• In the Arctic Ocean near Greenland

How does the size of Pujahonu compare to Mauna Loa?

• Pujahonu is half the size of Mauna Loa

• Pujahonu is smaller than Mauna Loa

• Pujahonu is twice the size of Mauna Loa

• Pujahonu is the same size as Mauna Loa

What technology did scientists use to study the ocean around Pujahonu?

• Satellite imaging

• Sonar and gravity mapping

• Seismic activity monitoring

• Underwater drones

What is unique about the magma that formed Pujahonu?

• It is the least abundant among Hawaii's volcanoes

• It is the most viscous among Hawaii's volcanoes

• It has the highest temperature among Hawaii's volcanoes

• It is the coldest among Hawaii's volcanoes

What was the effect of Pujahonu's massive size on the Earth's crust and mantle?

• It caused the crust to expand

• It had no effect on the crust and mantle

• It caused the crust to become thinner

• It caused the crust and mantle to buckle