As climate change accelerates the melting of Antarctica’s vast ice sheet, scientists warn it could awaken over 100 hidden volcanoes buried beneath the frozen continent.
This process, driven by the loss of pressure on underground magma chambers, may lead to subglacial eruptions with significant implications for the environment and global climate systems.
A study published in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems reveals how the thinning Antarctic Ice Sheet could set off volcanic activity.
Dr. Emily Coonin and her research team ran 4,000 computer simulations to explore the relationship between ice melt and magma dynamics beneath the surface. Their findings suggest that as ice recedes, the reduction in overlying pressure allows magma to expand, straining the chamber walls and increasing the likelihood of eruptions.
The process is further exacerbated by the release of volatile gases trapped within magma chambers. Under normal conditions, these gases remain dissolved due to high pressure. As the ice diminishes, the gases escape, intensifying internal pressure and potentially triggering volcanic activity - a phenomenon likened to the fizzing of a soda bottle when opened.
Although subglacial eruptions are hidden beneath the ice, their effects on the region could be profound. Heat from volcanic activity could accelerate ice melting from below, weakening the ice sheet’s stability. This could create a feedback loop, where increased melting triggers more eruptions, compounding the effects of climate change.
While these geological changes occur over centuries, their consequences could extend far beyond current climate mitigation efforts. Researchers suggest that similar volcanic activity may have played a role during the last ice age, underscoring the complex interactions between ice melt and geological forces.