'Bomb beneath ice': 10,000-year volcano chain hidden under Antarctica could doom us all
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
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Hidden Danger
Beneath Antarctica’s ice, an active volcanic rift lies dormant, waiting for change.
Volcanic Rift
Subglacial volcanoes could erupt if ice melts sufficiently, triggering catastrophic feedback loops.
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Ice Loss
Antarctica loses 150 billion tons of ice annually, destabilizing the planet's delicate balance.
Feedback Threat
Melting ice reduces pressure on Earth's crust, increasing magma expansion and eruption risks.
Eruption Chain
Research led by geochemist Allie Coonin of Brown University revealed eruptions accelerate ice loss.
Credit: Brown University
Gas Bubbles
Melting ice lets carbon dioxide and water form bubbles in magma, raising eruption chances.
Hidden Melting
Subglacial eruptions degrade ice from below, eroding it stealthily over centuries.
Permanent Impact
Coonin’s study warns of long-term feedback loops with permanently heightened volcanic activity.
Global Risks
Unaccounted volcanic heat could worsen sea-level rise, amplifying climate change impacts.
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Future Models
Published in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, the study stresses updated Earth models.