While you might immediately think of rising sea levels when glaciers melt, there’s an unexpected twist: volcanoes. A 2020 study revealed that around 245 volcanoes are covered by ice, and this has significant implications.
When glaciers sit on top of volcanoes, they create pressure that suppresses magma production. As glaciers melt, this pressure eases, allowing magma to rise. Recent activity in Iceland shows how this process works. After a series of earthquakes, scientists observed signs of magma moving beneath the Bardarbunga volcano, located under the Vatnajökull ice cap.
The volcano’s caldera is about 25 square miles and filled with ice. When this ice interacts with lava, it can be quite hazardous. In 2014, Bardarbunga erupted, producing Iceland’s largest eruption in over 200 years. Experts remain focused on the relationship between climate change and these ice-covered volcanoes.
Historically, during the Ice Age, increased volcanic activity occurred as the ice receded. According to Michelle Parks from the Icelandic Meteorological Office, this activity surged by up to 50 times as the ice melted over 1,500 years. Scientists today wonder if we might see a similar spike again.
Ice-covered volcanoes aren’t just an Icelandic issue. Regions in Alaska, British Columbia, California, and even parts of Antarctica have similar concerns. Geosciences professor Ben Edwards points out that around 160 million people live near these volcanoes, with 200,000 residing within just three miles.
To better understand these volcanoes, researchers are studying both the Icelandic and Chilean Andes. While Iceland’s glaciers press down due to tectonic activity, the situation in Chile is different. Researchers like Pablo Moreno-Yaeger from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, are investigating past eruptions using crystal analysis.
The key concern remains: how long can ice hold back the volcanoes as climate change progresses? Moreno-Yaeger summarized it well: “When we talk about climate change, we are always talking about chaos.” The situation is complex, and awareness is crucial as we navigate this evolving landscape.
For more insights on climate change and its impacts, check resources from authoritative sources like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and recent research studies.
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ice volcanoes, Bardarbunga volcano, Iceland, volcanoes
