Scientists sound the alarm: the melting of the ice could well Wake up some volcanoes And modify the eruptive behavior of others, in areas sometimes still not monitored. This intimate link Between climate and volcanic activity, long ignored, is today Confirmed by a series of geological studies and modeling.
When the ice releases volcanoes
When a glacial cap melts, she ceases to exert her colossal pressure on the earth’s crust. This, relieved, slowly dates back to a phenomenon known as isostatic rebound.
But it is not just a simple vertical adjustment: this uprising cracks the rocks, disturbs magmatic systems and can triggersometimes several centuries after the disappearance of ice.
The geological archives of Last big deglaciationoccurred about it 12 000 ansreveal a spectacular increase in volcanic activity in several regions of the globe.
In Iceland, the researchers observed that following the glacial withdrawal, The number of eruptions had been multiplied by 30 to 50. In Chilean Patagonia, volcanoes like Cerro Hudson or the Macá volcano, which remained silent for millennia under Over 1,500 meters of iceerupted in the centuries that followed the cast iron.
As glaciers retreat due to climate change, our results suggest that these volcanoes tend to erupted more frequently and more explosively. Pablo Moreno-Yaeger, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (United States),
These geological precedents are today scrutinized with a magnifying glass, because they perhaps announce what could happen again. THE most recent research supports these concerns.
More unstable volcanoes by 2100
A 2022 study analyzed the way in which climate change will affect active volcanoes by the end of the century. The discovery is unprecedented: 716 volcanoes active worldwide, or 58 % of them, will be exposed to extreme precipitation by 2100. These torrential rains, infiltrating the sides or craters, can not only cause hydrothermal explosionsbut also Promote devastating landslidesespecially in tropical and glacial regions.
In addition, the rise in temperatures also modifies the behavior of volcanic plumes. According to these models, The height of the eruptive columns could decrease by 1 to 2 kilometerswhich alters their ability to inject aerosols into the upper atmosphere and to influence the global climate.
Volcanic enigma under Western Antarctica
It is undoubtedly under the West Antarctica that the threatening the quietest, and the least monitored. Scientists discovered it Over 100 volcanoes buried under icesome with significant eruptive potential.
The Mont Erebusalready active and known for its permanent lava lake, is an example. THE Mont Waescheit presents a history of eruptions dating back to the hottest periods of the geological past. As for Mont Takahehe is suspected of having played a role in a major climate upheaval occurring there is approximately 17 700 ansby injecting large amounts of aerosols into the atmosphere.
According to sismologue Rick Astersome of these volcanoes could rest on abnormally hot areas of the crust, powered by deep mantle plumes. If the cap continues to disintegrate, it is not excluded that these magmatic systems are reactivated, with potentially global effects.
An infernal loop: climate, ice cream and volcanoes
The danger is not limited to a simple local explosion. What researchers fear more and more is the emergence of a feedback loop between climate and volcanic activity.
The scheme would be as follows: global warming accelerates the melting of ice, which promotes eruptions; Some of these eruptions release carbon dioxideor, on the contrary, sulfur which temporarily cools the atmosphere; In both cases, these disturbances can alter climate balance and revive a geological dynamic still poorly anticipated.
If such loops are switched on, they could considerably complicate climatic forecasts And strengthen the instability of certain sensitive regions.
Call to strengthen “volcanic watch”
Faced with these emerging risks, Scientists call to intensify the monitoring of volcanoes in ice or polar zones. Many of these systems are still uncommunicativefor lack of means or because of their geographic isolation.
The challenge is now cross geological, climatic and hydrological data to identify areas at risk, Refine the models and anticipate cascade effects.
Sources of the article
Marechal, A. (2024, October 09). Climate change will also have an impact on volcanic eruptions. Interview by V. Pinel & T. Aubry. Polytechnic Insights.
Carrington, D. (2025, July 08). Melting glaciers and ice caps could unleash wave of volcanic eruptions, study says.The Guardian.