Why are lava plateaus as large as the Deccan Plateau uncommon on Earth?

Lava plateaus on the scale of the Deccan Plateau are uncommon on Earth because the specific volcanic eruptions required to produce them are rare events. These massive volcanic features, often referred to as flood basalts, are typically associated with hot spots—areas where mantle plumes create intense, localized volcanic activity.12

The formation of such extensive plateaus requires voluminous eruptions that have not occurred in recent geological time. Historically, these events were often linked to major tectonic shifts, such as the rifting of supercontinents like Pangea or the breakup of Gondwana, which provided the necessary conditions for massive quantities of magma to reach the surface. Because these specific combinations of mantle plume activity and large-scale continental rifting are infrequent, lava plateaus of this magnitude remain rare features on the planet's surface.134