A recent study presented at the Goldschmidt Conference in Prague warns that melting glaciers and ice caps could unleash a wave of volcanic eruptions, potentially accelerating climate change. Researchers found that the weight of glaciers suppresses volcanic activity, but as the ice melts, it reduces pressure on magma chambers, allowing them to expand and potentially trigger explosive eruptions.
Key Findings
– *Glacier Suppression*:
Glaciers suppress volcanic activity by exerting pressure on magma chambers, preventing them from erupting.
– *Pressure Reduction*:
As glaciers melt, the reduction in pressure allows magma chambers to expand, increasing the likelihood of eruptions.
– *Volcanic Activity*:
Researchers observed a significant increase in volcanic activity in southern Chile after the last Ice Age, when glaciers retreated.
– *Antarctica’s Hidden Volcanoes*:
Antarctica’s melting ice sheet may lead to subglacial eruptions, worsening climate change effects. Over 100 hidden volcanoes are buried beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet.
Implications
– *Climate Feedback Loop*:
Volcanic eruptions release aerosol that can temporarily cool the planet, but repeated eruptions can contribute to long-term global warming.
– *Increased Volcanic Activity*:
Melting glaciers could lead to more frequent and explosive volcanic eruptions, potentially triggering a feedback loop of ice melt and volcanic activity.
– *Regional Impacts*:
The West Antarctic Ice Sheet, already vulnerable to collapse, may be further destabilized by volcanic activity.
Research Insights
– *Studying Past Eruptions*:
Researchers used argon dating and crystal analysis to track how glacial ice alter the characteristics of magma underground.
– *Simulating Future Eruptions*:
Computer simulations suggest that ice melt in Antarctica could lead to increased volcanic activity, with potentially disastrous consequences.
Expert Perspectives
– *Pablo Moreno-Yaeger*:
“Glaciers tend to suppress the volume of eruptions from volcanoes beneath them. But as glaciers retreat due to climate change, our findings suggest these volcanoes go on to erupt more frequently and more explosively.”
– *Importance of Monitoring*:
While the volcanic response to glacial melting is almost instant in geological terms, the process of changes in the magma system is gradual, giving some time for monitoring and early warning.
