First evidence of under-ice volcanic eruption in Antarctica

The first evidence of a volcanic eruption from beneath Antarctica’s most rapidly changing ice sheet is reported this week in the journal Nature Geosciences. The volcano on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet erupted 2000 years ago (325BC) and remains active.

Using airborne ice-sounding radar, scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) discovered a layer of ash produced by a ‘subglacial’ volcano. It extends across an area larger than Wales.

Lead author, Hugh Corr of the BAS says, “The discovery of a ‘subglacial’ volcanic eruption from beneath the Antarctic ice sheet is unique in itself. But our techniques also allow us to put a date on the eruption, determine how powerful it was and map out the area where ash fell. We believe this was the biggest eruption in Antarctica during the last 10,000 years. It blew a substantial hole in the ice sheet, and generated a plume of ash and gas that rose around 12 km into air.”

The discovery is another vital piece of evidence that will help determine the future of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and refine predictions of future sea-level rise. Co-author Professor David Vaughan (BAS) says,

“This eruption occurred close to Pine Island Glacier on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. The flow of this glacier towards the coast has speeded up in recent decades and it may be possible that heat from the volcano has caused some of that acceleration. However, it cannot explain the more widespread thinning of West Antarctic glaciers that together are contributing nearly 0.2mm per year to sea-level rise. This wider change most probably has its origin in warming ocean waters.”

Source: British Antarctic Survey

   

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3.9/5 after 44 votes

• jyro - Jan 20, 2008
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  related to this article?
  Carbon dioxide did not end the last Ice Age
  http://www.physor...579.html
  "the warming deep water appeared to come from the Antarctic Ocean, the scientists wrote. "
  
  
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• jyro - Jan 20, 2008
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  another try "Carbon dioxide did not end the last Ice Age"
  http://www.eureka...2507.php
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• CactusCritter - Jan 21, 2008
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  I was startled to seee that there is a glacier in Antartica named the Pine Island Glacier. Pine Island is the name of a seaplane tender which is, I believe, a sister ship of the USS Curtiss seaplane tender which I served on shortly after WW-II ended. When the Curtiss was scheduled to steam back to the USA, it took aboard all of the Pine Islend personnel who were scheduled for discharge from the Navy in the very near future.
  
  Small world.
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• freemind - Jan 21, 2008
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  http://www.physor...579.html - your link, jyro
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• JLMEALER - Apr 22, 2009
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  Gee... ya think Al Gore missed this fact?
  
  Volcanoes under an ice shelf (the polar caps) causes serious melting issues...
  
  Just like Potatoes in a stew make it more filling.
  
  John Lewis Mealer
  http://betterconstructed.com
  America's Next Major Automaker
  MEALER AMERICAN MOTORS CORPORATION
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