Antarctica's dormant volcano threat rises with ice melt
Antarctica, a continent 98 percent covered by a polar ice cap, is home to numerous dormant volcanoes. According to scientists, ongoing climate changes may awaken some of them.
Beneath Antarctica's thick ice layer, there are over 130 known volcanoes, most of which remain inactive or entirely dormant. However, the melting of glaciers due to climate warming could potentially trigger volcanic eruptions, raising concerns among scientists, reports IFL Science. This process is not unprecedented; studies indicate similar activity occurred after the last ice age.
Antarctica hides numerous volcanoes
Approximately 12,000 to 7,000 years ago, during the deglaciation period, or when ice sheets and glaciers retreated and melted, volcanic activity on land increased two to six times compared to normal levels. The reduction in glacier mass decreased the pressure on the Earth's crust, allowing magma to move more easily to the surface, leading to more frequent eruptions.
Modern climate changes, driven by human activity, are causing rapid warming and significant ice loss in Antarctica. This creates the possibility of similar processes occurring today, albeit over a much shorter time frame.
The impact of climate change on glacier melting
IFL Science notes that one of Antarctica's most well-known active volcanoes is Mount Erebus, which has been erupting continuously for decades, releasing volcanic ash, among other materials. If other volcanoes beneath the ice were reactivated due to the reduced pressure of the ice sheets, it could trigger a feedback loop. This means increased volcanic activity could release ash that reduces the ice's ability to reflect sunlight, accelerating further melting.
Although the connections between climate change and volcanism are a subject of intense research, scientists caution against directly applying conclusions from the deglaciation period to the present. Building volcanic systems takes hundreds of thousands of years, while climate changes occur over decades.
Virginie Pinel, the director of volcanic research at the French National Institute for Sustainable Development, emphasizes that climate changes provide a unique opportunity to understand the factors influencing eruptions. "It's a kind of live experiment that will allow us to better understand the mechanisms behind volcanic activity," she said in an interview with Polytechnique Insights.
The impact of climate change on volcanic activity remains largely uncertain, but scientists agree on one thing: understanding these connections is crucial for predicting future threats. Antarctica, while still a mystery, might provide answers to fundamental questions regarding the interaction between Earth and climate.
