New studies show that erupting glaciers can dramatically raise the risk of explosive volcanic eruptions around the world. As these glaciers melt and retract, they relieve pressure from underlying magma chambers, leading to the perfect recipe for increased volcanic activity. With this demographic change comes a new and unexpected vulnerability in the regions that have long been home to erupting volcanoes. It impacts areas once thought of as immune bastions.
The Mocho-Choshuenco volcano in Chile is a great example of this, as its northeast flank has been completely draped in ice. The thickness of glacial coverage is key, as it mitigates the strength of eruptions from the volcanoes below. As these glaciers start to melt, pressure gets released on magma chambers underneath them. This small shift can set off a domino effect that can result in the most explosive eruptions.
Understanding the Connection Between Glaciers and Volcanic Activity
The second criteria for added explosivity in an eruption is a huge thickness of glacial ice sitting atop an active magma chamber. Glaciers are under retreat right now in Antarctica. This lessening of pressure can lead to more explosive volcanic eruptions.
Scientists have long known that this process can happen at the speed of light—in geological time, that is. The magma system is relatively long-lived, changing slowly over centuries. Unlike most climate change, you can see the short-term impact of glacial retreat almost at once. The link was first demonstrated in the scientific community following the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. That one eruption was enough to cool the whole planet by 0.5°C.
“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.” – Pablo Moreno-Yaeger
When it came to Dunn’s discovery, thick ice cover during the last ice age—at its peak between 26,000 and 18,000 years ago—actively killed volcanoes. This created the necessary conditions for a massive reservoir of silica-rich magma to accumulate 10 to 15 kilometers under the Earth’s surface. As climate change raises concerns over rapid glacial melting on a global scale, scientists are more worried now than ever about the volcanic implications.
Global Implications and Areas of Concern
The risk of increased volcanic activity from melting glaciers goes far beyond Chile. As the spotlight begins to shift away from Europe, scientists are turning their gaze on other continental regions that may be just as threatened. Such regions are sparsely populated across North America, New Zealand, and Russia. Such conditions in these regions can lead to catastrophic and unpredictable volcanic eruptions.
The need for observing these areas comes from the net impact that many eruptions can have on global warming. As these eruption rates increase, emissions of greenhouse gases would increase substantially in turn, intensifying climate change.
“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.”
Recent research done on six different volcanoes in the Chilean Andes have painted a fascinating relationship. With glaciers rapidly retreating, volcanic activity is increasing. The consequences are sweeping. The research scientists are convinced that we need to conduct more studies to improve our understanding of how climate change will influence the behavior of volcanoes globally.
The Need for Ongoing Research
Climate change impacts the interaction between melting ice caps and geological systems. To improve our ability to track emerging threats, we need a more holistic and multipronged approach. Decoding these dynamics is key. It better equips us to predict upcoming volcanic eruptions that could disrupt global climate patterns and threaten human life.
The gradual and complex interactions between melting ice caps and geological systems require a comprehensive approach to monitor potential risks effectively. Understanding these dynamics is vital for predicting future volcanic events that could impact global climate patterns and human populations alike.
