Latest news with #glacierretreat
Sustainability Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
"This Could Trigger Global Chaos": Melting Ice in Antarctica May Unleash a Volcanic Hell No One Is Ready For
IN A NUTSHELL 🌋 Melting glaciers due to climate change may trigger increased volcanic activity, creating a feedback loop with global implications. due to climate change may trigger increased volcanic activity, creating a feedback loop with global implications. 🔍 Studies on Chilean volcanoes reveal that retreating ice sheets reduce pressure on magma chambers, potentially leading to explosive eruptions. 🌎 Potential hotspots for increased volcanic activity include regions in Antarctica , North America, New Zealand, and Russia, necessitating closer scientific monitoring. , North America, New Zealand, and Russia, necessitating closer scientific monitoring. 🌡️ While volcanic eruptions can temporarily cool the planet, the cumulative effect of multiple eruptions could contribute to long-term global warming. As the Earth's climate continues to warm, a new and intriguing consequence is emerging: the potential for increased volcanic activity as glaciers melt. Recent studies have brought to light the intricate relationship between retreating glaciers and volcanic eruptions, particularly in regions like Chile and Antarctica. This phenomenon underscores a complex feedback loop where climate change-induced ice loss may trigger volcanic activities, which in turn, could accelerate climate change. Understanding these dynamics not only deepens our comprehension of Earth's systems but also highlights the urgent need for monitoring and mitigation strategies. Glacier Retreat Fuels Future Eruptions The retreat of glaciers worldwide is setting the stage for potentially powerful and frequent volcanic eruptions. A groundbreaking study on six Chilean volcanoes suggests that the loss of glacial cover due to climate change could awaken dormant volcanoes, especially in regions like Antarctica. This research, presented at the Goldschmidt Conference, emphasizes a growing scientific concern: as glaciers recede, volcanoes once sealed under thick ice could erupt more frequently and explosively. This connection between glacial retreat and volcanic activity, studied extensively in Iceland, is now gaining attention in continental regions. As glaciers melt, they remove the immense pressure they once exerted on the Earth's crust. This reduction in pressure allows gases within magma chambers to expand, increasing the likelihood of eruptions. The findings suggest that glaciated volcanic regions might experience heightened volcanic activity, contributing to a feedback loop of climate change and eruptions. Such interactions could have far-reaching implications for global climate patterns, necessitating closer scientific scrutiny. 'It's Like a Tesla You Can Live In!': LOVT Unveils Futuristic Tiny House That's Modular, Eco-Friendly, and Ready to Disrupt Everything Andes Study Reveals Hidden Magma Clues Researchers from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, alongside colleagues from Lehigh University, UCLA, and Dickinson College, conducted an in-depth study of six volcanoes in southern Chile. Their focus included the dormant Mocho-Choshuenco volcano, where they applied advanced techniques such as argon dating and crystal analysis. These methods allowed them to investigate the impact of the Patagonian Ice Sheet's shifts on volcanic behavior over thousands of years. During the last ice age, thick ice sheets exerted significant pressure on volcanic regions, suppressing eruptions by preventing magma from reaching the surface. Beneath this icy cover, reservoirs of silica-rich magma accumulated at depths of 6 to 9 miles. As the glaciers melted, the pressure dropped, enabling gases in the magma to expand and potentially trigger explosive eruptions. The researchers believe that this process is currently unfolding as modern glaciers retreat, highlighting the importance of understanding these dynamics. 'They're Melting Living Flesh in Hours': Scientists Horrified as Swarm of Flesh-Eating Flies Begins Rapid Takeover of U.S. Ice Loss Triggers Explosive Reservoir The rapid melting of ice sheets at the end of the last ice age resulted in significant geological changes. As the weight of the glaciers diminished, the Earth's crust relaxed, allowing gases within magma to expand. This expansion led to explosive volcanic eruptions from deep magma reservoirs. Pablo Moreno-Yaeger from the University of Wisconsin-Madison presented these findings at the Goldschmidt Conference, noting the critical role of thick glacial coverage in suppressing volcanic activity. Moreno-Yaeger emphasized that as glaciers retreat due to climate change, volcanoes beneath them may erupt more frequently and explosively. This phenomenon is not limited to Iceland but could also occur in Antarctica and other continental regions. The potential for increased volcanic activity in these areas underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and study, as eruptions could have significant climatic impacts. 'They're Erasing Us From the Timeline': Scientists Furious as the Human Epoch Is Denied Official Status Despite Clear Start Date Global Hotspots & Climate Feedback This study suggests that increased volcanic activity due to glacial melting could have global climate implications. Though volcanic eruptions can temporarily cool the planet by releasing aerosols, the cumulative effect of multiple eruptions may contribute to long-term global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions. The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, which cooled global temperatures by approximately 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit, exemplifies the short-term cooling effect. The researchers caution that while the volcanic response to glacial melting is immediate in geological terms, changes in magma systems occur over centuries. This gradual process provides an opportunity for monitoring and early warning systems. However, as glaciers continue to retreat, the potential for increased volcanic activity and its impact on climate change remains a pressing concern. This underscores the importance of continued research and international cooperation to address these emerging challenges. The intricate relationship between glacial retreat and volcanic activity presents significant challenges and opportunities for scientific research. As glaciers continue to melt, understanding the potential for increased volcanic eruptions becomes crucial for predicting and mitigating the impacts on global climate systems. This dynamic interplay raises important questions about our planet's future: How can we best monitor and respond to these changes to protect our environment and communities? The answers may hold the key to navigating an uncertain climatic future. This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.3/5 (21)
Gizmodo
08-07-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
Melting Glaciers Could Unleash a Barrage of Volcanic Eruptions Worldwide, Scientists Warn
As if we needed another reason to worry about the climate crisis, researchers have found that melting glaciers could trigger a surge of intense volcanic eruptions in the future. Across the globe, hundreds of subglacial volcanoes—formed by eruptions beneath glaciers—lie dormant under thick layers of ice. A new study, presented at the Goldschmidt Conference in Prague, suggests that these volcanoes could awaken as climate change accelerates glacier retreat, potentially leading to an increase in volcanic eruptions around the world. This is particularly concerning in West Antarctica, where at least 100 subglacial volcanoes have been identified. Glaciers in this region are rapidly disappearing as the planet warms. 'Our study suggests this phenomenon isn't limited to Iceland, where increased volcanicity has been observed, but could also occur in Antarctica. Other continental regions, like parts of North America, New Zealand, and Russia, also now warrant closer scientific attention,' said Pablo Moreno, a geologist from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and one of the study's authors, in a statement. According to a 2020 study, 245 of the world's potentially active volcanoes lie underneath or within 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) of glacial ice. Since the 1970s, Iceland has experienced increased volcanic activity linked to retreating glaciers. However, this study is among the first to show how melting glaciers have influenced volcanic behavior across an entire continent. To investigate the link between past volcanic activity and glacier retreat, researchers studied the melting of the Patagonian ice sheets thousands of years ago and the ensuing eruptions. They used argon dating and crystal analysis on six volcanoes in southern Chile, including the inactive Mocho-Choshuenco volcano. This allowed them to determine the timing of past eruptions and trace how the weight and pressure of glacial ice affected the behavior of magma underground. The study was a collaboration between scientists at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the University of California, Los Angeles, Dickinson College, and Lehigh University. The researchers found that during the peak of the last Ice Age—around 26,000 to 18,000 years ago—the thick ice cover suppressed volcanic activity, allowing large pools of magma to accumulate 6.2 to 9.3 miles (10 to 15 kilometers) below the surface. Then, as the ice sheet melted around 13,000 years ago, the sudden loss of weight caused the Earth's crust to relax and allowed gases and magma underground to expand. This pressure buildup triggered explosive eruptions. 'The key requirement for increased explosivity is initially having a very thick glacial coverage over a magma chamber, and the trigger point is when these glaciers start to retreat, releasing pressure,' said Moreno-Yaeger. Increased volcanic activity could also have global climate effects. In the short term, eruptions release aerosols that can temporarily cool the planet. But over time, the cumulative effect of multiple eruptions can contribute to warming by releasing greenhouse gases. 'Over time the cumulative effect of multiple eruptions can contribute to long-term global warming because of a buildup of greenhouse gases,' said Moreno-Yaeger. 'This creates a positive feedback loop, where melting glaciers trigger eruptions, and the eruptions in turn could contribute to further warming and melting.'
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Melting glaciers could make volcanic eruptions more explosive, scientists warn
Dormant volcanoes across the Earth could become more active and erupt more violently as the climate crisis accelerates glacier retreat, scientists warn in a new study. The research, presented on Tuesday at the Goldschmidt Conference in Prague, assessed six volcanoes in the Chilean Andes and found evidence that rapidly melting glaciers across the planet could set the stage for more explosive and frequent volcanic eruptions. A link between retreating glaciers and an increase in volcanic activity has been known since the 1970s from studies conducted in Iceland. However, the latest research is one of the first to establish this association in continental volcanic systems. 'Our study suggests this phenomenon isn't limited to Iceland, where increased volcanicity has been observed, but could also occur in Antarctica,' said volcanologist Pablo Moreno-Yaeger from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 'Other continental regions, like parts of North America, New Zealand and Russia, also now warrant closer scientific attention,' Dr Moreno-Yaeger said. The latest findings could help scientists better predict volcanic activity in glacier-covered regions. In the study, researchers conducted crystal analysis across six volcanoes in southern Chile, including the now dormant Mocho-Choshuenco volcano. They assessed how the advance and retreat of the Patagonian Ice Sheet influenced past volcanic behaviour in the region. The analysis of crystals found at these sites helped precisely date previous volcanic eruptions. It also helped determine how the weight and pressure of glacial ice change the characteristics of magma underground. Scientists found that during the peak of the last ice age – around 26,000–18,000 years ago – thick ice cover suppressed the volume of eruptions and allowed a large reservoir of silica-rich magma to accumulate 10-15 km below the surface. Then, as the thick ice sheet melted rapidly at the end of the last ice age, the sudden loss of weight caused the crust to relax, and gases in the magma to expand, according to the yet-to-be peer-reviewed study. As pressure built up from underneath, it triggered explosive eruptions, causing the volcano to form, researchers found. 'Glaciers tend to suppress the volume of eruptions from the 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,' said Dr Moreno-Yaeger. 'The key requirement for increased explosivity is initially having a very thick glacial coverage over a magma chamber, and the trigger point is when these glaciers start to retreat, releasing pressure, which is currently happening in places like Antarctica,' he added. While glacier melting could be happening currently at unprecedented rates due to global warming, researchers say the process of changes in the magma system due to this happens over centuries, giving some time for monitoring and early warning.
