Researchers from Brown University in the United States indicate that melting glaciers in Antarctica may lead to the eruption of at least 100 volcanoes.
Antarctica, the coldest region on Earth, is among the areas affected by the climate crisis. The continent, primarily composed of snow, ice, and rock, has experienced record temperatures in recent years. It was determined that the Antarctic Peninsula is warming five times faster than the global average.
According to Euronews, the continent is divided by the Transantarctic Mountains and features volcanic peaks, including Mount Erebus and its iconic lava lake.
A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems states that the melting ice sheet could trigger eruptions from more than 100 volcanoes beneath the surface of Antarctica.
There are at least 100 more volcanoes in Antarctica, some of which are above the surface, while others lie several kilometers beneath the ice sheet.
The study indicates that this melting could increase the number and size of subglacial eruptions. The reason is that the loss of ice sheets reduces pressure in magma chambers beneath the surface, allowing the compressed magma to expand.
This expansion increases pressure on the walls of magma chambers, potentially leading to eruptions. The pressure may accelerate the onset of eruptions in subglacial volcanoes due to the melting ice.