Melting ice in Antarctica may cause increased volcanic activity

In a new study, scientists suggest that melting ice in Antarctica may be causing a decrease in pressure on magma reservoirs deep inside the Earth. This could trigger powerful volcanic activity on the icy continent and cause numerous unpleasant consequences across the planet.

Antarctica’s melting glaciers could trigger volcanic activity. Source: telegrafi.com

Antarctic ice and volcanoes

Recently, researchers from Brown University published a study in the journal Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems regarding some of the possible effects of Antarctic ice melt. They claim that this process could cause an increase in volcanic activity both on the ice continent itself and in other parts of our planet.

The fact that ice melting in Antarctica is part of the overall processes of climate change has not been news to anyone for many years. But the fact that it could somehow affect magma deep within the Earth may, at first glance, come as a surprise. Although this conclusion is actually based on a long-known fact: the multi-kilometer thick ice sheet is pressing hard on the continental plate beneath it.

Scientists have simply calculated that this impact is also very strong on the magma reservoirs beneath it. And if the ice melting causes the pressure in the ice to drop, it could lead to numerous eruptions. Predominantly, they may occur in the West Antarctic Rift System, where there are more than 100 potential centers of volcanism.

Volcanic activity in the past 

Scientists base their conclusions on the study of climate and volcanic activity in Antarctica over the past 150,000 years. During this time, our planet has managed to survive two ice ages and the warming between them. And Antarctica’s crisis has preserved volcanic ash.

Scientists used a thermochemical model of a volcanic hotspot to understand how the amount of ice affected volcanic activity. They realized that when the external pressure from the ice decreases, the solubility of the gases in the magma contained in the reservoirs drops, and they form bubbles. The latter try to find their way to the surface and cause eruptions.

And, as the researchers found, this process has been underway for some time. The model shows that the fact that some eruptions have occurred can only be explained if the pressure drop from melting ice is taken into account. This means that these eruptions might not have happened.

Global Impacts

Moreover, the process may also affect the regions of the Earth nearest to Antarctica. For example, in the Andes, located in South America, scientists have noticed a similar process. The ice sheet covered Patagonia for 35,000-18,000 years and its melting caused an increase in the number of eruptions of the Calbuco, Mocho-Choshuenco and Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcanoes.

Scientists say the consequences could be global. They are most concerned about the possibility of a positive feedback loop between the appearance of volcanoes and melting ice. Fire mountains give off a lot of heat. And the more of it there is, the faster the surrounding ice melts. And that further reduces the pressure in the magma reservoirs.

In addition, we should consider the effect of carbon dioxide that will be emitted by volcanoes. It increases the greenhouse effect and its effects are difficult to predict. In general, the researchers conclude that since the process of pressure reduction due to melting ice has already started, even stopping all anthropogenic emissions will not stop climate change. It will occur for centuries and millennia.

According to phys.org

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