Joint Geodynamic‐Geophysical Inversion Suggests Passive Subduction and Accretion of the Ontong Java Plateau

In this study, we for the first time applied a joint geodynamic‐geophysical inversion approach to oceanic plateau subduction models, and compared the subduction style and corresponding topography and Bouguer gravity of two representative subduction scenarios with passive or active collision. We showed that the case of passive collision of the Ontong Java Plateau (OJP) crust better explains the topography, gravity, and seismic data than the active collision scenario. This implies that the OJP did not control the regional dynamics during the collisional process. We conclude that previous studies may have overestimated the role of the OJP in triggering subduction initiation, subduction polarity reversal, and even Pacific Plate rotation.