Slashdot Mirror


Scientists Discover 91 Volcanoes Below Antarctic Ice Sheet (theguardian.com)

Reader schwit1 writes: Scientists have uncovered the largest volcanic region on Earth -- two kilometres below the surface of the vast ice sheet that covers west Antarctica. The project, by Edinburgh University researchers, has revealed almost 100 volcanoes -- with the highest as tall as the Eiger, which stands at almost 4,000 metres in Switzerland. This is in addition to 47 already known about and eruption would melt more ice in region affected by climate change, the report added. Geologists say this huge region is likely to dwarf that of east Africa's volcanic ridge, currently rated the densest concentration of volcanoes in the world. And the activity of this range could have worrying consequences, they have warned. "If one of these volcanoes were to erupt it could further destabilise west Antarctica's ice sheets," said glacier expert Robert Bingham, one of the paper's authors. "Anything that causes the melting of ice -- which an eruption certainly would -- is likely to speed up the flow of ice into the sea.

31 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. Worry worry worry by 110010001000 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    One thing I have noticed about these guys who study ice sheets is that they worry a lot. They didn't even know there were 91 volcanoes there that have been there for who knows for how long. Yet they are "worried" about it, suddenly. Needs more money for studies I guess.

    1. Re:Worry worry worry by Aristos+Mazer · · Score: 2

      It's really just another angle for the same worry about climate change because the melting ice may make eruption more likely. From the article:
      However, he pointed to one alarming trend: “The most volcanism that is going in the world at present is in regions that have only recently lost their glacier covering – after the end of the last ice age. These places include Iceland and Alaska. Theory suggests that this is occurring because, without ice sheets on top of them, there is a release of pressure on the regions’ volcanoes and they become more active.”

    2. Re:Worry worry worry by Dunbal · · Score: 5, Interesting

      This is typical of climate change types. They single out Alaska and Iceland to justify their theory and then neglect to mention that Iceland is a brand new (geologically speaking) island formed through vulcanism, so actually the volcanoes pre-date galciers on iceland - and Alaska sits on the pacific ring of fire so there's no surprise about volcanic activity there in an active tectonic region. There is little to no evidence that melting glaciers affect volcanic activity. If a bunch of superheated steam and molten rock can squirt it's way up all the way from the mantle it's not the last km of ice (which is much easier to melt than rock) that will stop it.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    3. Re:Worry worry worry by 110010001000 · · Score: 3, Funny

      There is no reason to worry about glacier covering being lost due to the end of the last Ice Age. You might as well worry about asteroids.

    4. Re:Worry worry worry by 110010001000 · · Score: 3, Funny

      So are you planning on calling an exterminator to kill the volcanoes?

    5. Re:Worry worry worry by 110010001000 · · Score: 2

      So are you planning on extinguishing the volcanoes?

    6. Re:Worry worry worry by kwbauer · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Volcanoes are driven by the molten mass that is the core of the Earth which is around 6,000 C. Can you please explain how trace amounts of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere are going to affect the core of the Earth. Volcanoes happen when fissures in the Earth's crust open from seismic activity and such and open a channel to the surface. If a large enough channel opens, the ice won't stand a chance.

      Global warming has zero affect on volcanoes but you idiots will try anything when imitating Chicken Little. Volcanoes, on the other hand, could have everything to do with warming surface temperatures if the insulation (Earth's crust) is growing thinner.

    7. Re:Worry worry worry by Hylandr · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Wrong.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

      Ice isn't going to stop Lava, and if you watched videos of Mt. St Helens erupting , blowing thousands of tons of mountainside into the *air* for *miles* a relatively thin sheet of ice isn't going to be a deterrent.

      Applying the principle of occam's razor; Increased global geothermal activity has been melting the glaciers. Heat beats Ice.

      --
      ~ People that think they are better than anyone else for any reason are the cause of all the strife in the world.
    8. Re:Worry worry worry by es330td · · Score: 5, Funny

      Heat beats Ice.

      I think Jon Snow is banking on this.

    9. Re:Worry worry worry by SScorpio · · Score: 2

      Until the white walkers turn one of the dragons. I wonder if the zombie dragon will breath ice?

    10. Re:Worry worry worry by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 2

      Do you think that maybe, just maybe, the scientists looking for volcanoes below the Antarctic ice sheet could be competent geologists chasing their next government grant?

      FTFY.

    11. Re:Worry worry worry by Terwin · · Score: 2

      There is no reason to worry about glacier covering being lost due to the end of the last Ice Age. You might as well worry about asteroids.

      That is sort of like saying 'My gas tank is empty because I am out of gas.'

      By definition, our _current_ ice age will end when we no-longer have locations with year-round Ice in both the northern and southern hemisphere(ie glaciers and ice-caps)

  2. Domino effect by Errol+backfiring · · Score: 5, Informative

    From the article:

    "The most volcanism that is going in the world at present is in regions that have only recently lost their glacier covering – after the end of the last ice age. These places include Iceland and Alaska. Theory suggests that this is occurring because, without ice sheets on top of them, there is a release of pressure on the regions’ volcanoes and they become more active."

    Not entirely unimportant, I think.

    --
    Nae king! Nae laird! Nae yurrupiean pressedent! We willna be fooled again!
    1. Re:Domino effect by 110010001000 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Or it could be that the volcanoes are more active recently and thus recently lost their glacier covering. Nah! Couldn't be. Must be the opposite. We know everything about why the ice sheets are melting. Yet we didn't know that there were 91 volcanoes underneath them apparently.

    2. Re:Domino effect by 110010001000 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Not sure. Climate change? Must be. That is the only explanation.

    3. Re:Domino effect by 110010001000 · · Score: 2

      They aren't stupid, but they have motivations beyond science, just like everyone else. Even if the volcanoes are more active due to loss of glacier coverage from the last ice age, what is the point on worrying about it?

    4. Re:Domino effect by hey! · · Score: 3, Informative

      Everyone has motivations. And one of them most people have (scientists more than most) is not to look stupid.

      The point of worrying about it is that that's their job.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    5. Re:Domino effect by riverat1 · · Score: 2

      Ice sheets are sitting on the land. The remnants of ice sheets floating on the ocean are called ice shelves.

      I don't know how much energy an individual seamount gives off but all the volcanoes and other geothermal features on the Earth emit about 1/10,000 as much energy the Sun does. That's not enough to have any effect on AGW. And there is no evidence that the level of geothermal activity has changed significantly in the recent past.

      Volcanoes can have local effects of course and those under the ice sheet may melt enough ice to destabilize the ice sheet locally but the effects of global warming are melting ice everywhere regardless of whether there's a volcano involved or not.

  3. Due to Global Warming by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Man caused the volcanoes to form under the ice by allowing cows to pass gas.

    1. Re:Due to Global Warming by Dunbal · · Score: 4, Funny

      Naturally - this angers the volcano gods. They can only be appeased through sacrifice.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  4. Re:Map with topo data showing volcanoes by Maven0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sigh. After all these years of avoiding that, you finally got me, and at work no less.

  5. MODERATORS ARE CENSORING POSTS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Notice that all the posts (like mine) that are skeptical of global warming have been censored to -1. Science advances when people find problems with current theories and new theories have to be developed to explain the evidence. However, in the case of global warming, all the evidence against it is censored and the researchers have their character attacked. It's a shame that quality research is censored and science is being prevented from advancing in this area.

    1. Re:MODERATORS ARE CENSORING POSTS by bazorg · · Score: 2

      Try to post again then, with that evidence and good arguments you promised. If being AC suits you, go for it, otherwise a new account with a pseudonym starts off at a slightly higher score by default.

    2. Re: MODERATORS ARE CENSORING POSTS by cbeaudry · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The results are not reproducible.

      You made that up. That is the problem with climate science.

      Heck, they are going around saying now that climate science is "special" and does not need to be falsifiable.

      They are basically redefining the definition of SCIENCE.

      http://theconversation.com/cli...

    3. Re:MODERATORS ARE CENSORING POSTS by Whibla · · Score: 2

      The evidence available to us debunks the theory that Co2 will cause runaway heat. Its simple as that.

      If you could provide this evidence I'd be much appreciative.

      Thanks, in advance...

  6. Re:Map with topo data showing volcanoes by Dunbal · · Score: 5, Informative

    Haven't clicked on it but the /goat/ in the url address is a give-away...should have looked at the url. I do :)

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  7. Re:Third Rock From The Sun by 110010001000 · · Score: 2

    We can't go to the stars because Physics.

  8. Chicken, or the Egg? by sycodon · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Which came first?

    It is very well possible that geothermal activitie at the base of these ice sheets is responsible to the degradation of the ice sheet, no?

    You don't need a volcano to erupt to melt ice.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  9. And translating you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You improperly read and pull any old shite from your anus to fling at science because it shows a problem your politics would rather ignore and cannot handle.

  10. This is ACTUAL evidence of climate change by zifn4b · · Score: 2

    But not the man made variety. This is evidence of NATURAL climate change. In order for nearly 100 volcanoes to be underneath 2km of ice, what happened? Climate change. Once upon a time, that area was presumably very hot and with frequent volcanic activity. Some type of climate change occurred, a very radical one and all the volcanoes froze underneath all that ice.

    There is no "natural" homeostasis for climate. Any suggestion of the like is really just human beings wanting to keep the climate ideal to their species' preferences indefinitely. Believe it or not, that is actually unnatural. It goes directly against the principles of entropy at work in the universe.

    --
    We'll make great pets
  11. Re:Map with topo data showing volcanoes by justthinkit · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yup, you figured out how to avoid it. Well done.

    --
    I come here for the love