Unlocking a Volcanic Tipping Point: How Melting Glaciers May Trigger Global Eruptions, Experts Say

Researchers have uncovered a surprising link between melting glaciers and volcanic eruptions. As glaciers shrink due to climate change, dormant volcanoes lurking underneath the ice could wake up, leading to more eruptions worldwide.

Dozens of subglacial volcanoes exist beneath ice sheets in places like West Antarctica. This region has at least 100 identified volcanoes, and the glaciers there are melting rapidly. According to Pablo Moreno, a geologist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, this pattern isn’t just limited to Iceland, where increased volcanic activity has already been noted. Other areas—including parts of North America, New Zealand, and Russia—may also be at risk.

A 2020 study found that 245 potentially active volcanoes are located beneath or within about three miles of glacial ice. Since the 1970s, Iceland has seen heightened volcanic activity tied to glacier retreat. However, this new research explores how melting glaciers can affect volcanic behavior across entire continents.

To understand this link, researchers studied the Patagonian ice sheets, focusing on eruptions from thousands of years ago. By using argon dating on six Chilean volcanoes, including the now-inactive Mocho-Choshuenco, they traced how glacier weight impacted underground magma. This team included scientists from multiple institutions, emphasizing the collaborative effort in studying this complex issue.

During the last Ice Age, thick ice limited volcanic activity by piling pressure on magma below. As the ice began to melt around 13,000 years ago, this weight dropped. The reduced pressure allowed gases and magma to escape, triggering explosive eruptions.

Moreno-Yaeger highlighted that significant volcanic activity might create a feedback loop. Initially, thick glaciers keep volcanic activity at bay, but when they retreat, eruptions can occur. These eruptions can temporarily cool the Earth due to the aerosols they release. However, they also release greenhouse gases that could contribute to global warming in the long run.

This phenomenon raises critical questions about how melting glaciers could affect our planet’s climate. As we continue to monitor these changes, understanding the broader impacts of glacier retreat on volcanic activity becomes increasingly important.

Recent statistics show that as the global temperature rises, we’re witnessing changes in various Earth systems. According to the NASA Climate Change Report, the past decade has seen some of the hottest years recorded. This context adds another layer to the urgency of our climate crisis.

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Climate change,climate disasters,glaciers,Volcanic eruptions,Volcanoes