Melting Icecaps Linked to Increased Volcanic Activity, New Study Reveals

A recent study presented at the Goldschmidt Conference on geochemistry in Prague suggests that the melting of glaciers is likely to lead to more frequent and violent volcanic eruptions. The research, conducted by scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dickinson College, and the University of La Frontera, focuses on several volcanoes in Chile's Patagonia region and highlights significant geological implications as ice melts under climate change pressures.

The study indicates that the weight of glacial ice has historically acted as a suppressive force on volcanic activity. As glaciers lose mass—approximately 5% of their total mass since the start of the century, equivalent to 8,500 gigatonnes according to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)—the resulting reduction in pressure allows magma to escape more easily from beneath the Earth's surface. This process resembles releasing pressure from a carbonated beverage, as described by Brad Singer, a geoscientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

During the last Ice Age, volcanic eruptions increased by as much as fifty-fold following the retreat of glaciers, a pattern that scientists believe could repeat in present-day scenarios. The research team’s analysis involved studying six volcanoes, including Mocho-Choshuenco, employing argon dating and crystal analysis methods to gather data on magma reservoirs that formed under glacial cover. Pablo Moreno Yaeger, a graduate student involved in the research, noted, “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.”

The implications of this research extend beyond Chile. A 2023 study published in Nature Climate Change warns that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is at risk of significant melting by the century's end, which could activate over 100 active volcanoes located beneath it. This situation poses a dual threat: increased volcanic activity could release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, further exacerbating climate change and accelerating ice loss.

Moreover, research published in Communications Earth & Environment indicates that glaciers near volcanically active regions are retreating 46% faster on average than those situated further away. This trend raises concerns for numerous regions globally, including parts of North America, New Zealand, and Russia, where volcanic activity could similarly increase as glaciers melt.

The interconnected nature of these geological and climatic changes points to urgent needs for further research and monitoring of both glacier dynamics and volcanic activity. The findings underscore how climate change not only threatens ecosystems and human societies but also has far-reaching geological implications that could reshape our understanding of volcanic activity in a warming world.