Active Volcano Found Under Antarctic Ice: Eruption Could Raise Sea Levels

[Crisp]

Active Volcano Found Under Antarctic Ice: Eruption Could Raise Sea Levels

Inevitable eruption will speed up ice loss on frozen continent, study says.

 

The summit of Mount Erebus casts a long shadow out over the Ross Sea. Mount Erebus is the most active volcano in Antarctica?and one of a few in the world with a permanent lake of molten lava in its crater. - Photograph by George Steinmetz, Corbis

 

A newly discovered volcano found buried beneath a thick layer of ice in Antarctica could speed up ice loss and raise global sea levels when it erupts, scientists say.

The finding, detailed in the current issue of Nature Geoscience, marks the first time that an active volcano has been discovered under the ice of the frozen continent. (Also see "Giant Undersea Volcanoes Found Off Antarctica.")

When it erupts?which no one can predict?the volcano "will create millions of gallons of water beneath the ice?many lakes full," study leader Doug Wiens, professor of earth and planetary science at Washington University in St. Louis, said in a statement.

This water will rush beneath the ice toward the sea and feed into one of the major ice streams that drain ice from Antarctica into the Ross Ice Shelf, Wiens explained.

 

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[Tai]

create millions of gallons of water beneath the ice ... bottle it and make a few million !

[Growled Member]

 

When it erupts?which no one can predict.....

 

I find it hard to be concerned if eruption is not imminent.

[Phouchg]

^ That's the thing about it: the more it takes, the more damage it will do.

[Hum]

Guess I'll sell the beach house.

[+Warwagon MVC]

I find it strange that the snow at the very very top of the volcano still hasn't melted yet.

[Neu B]

Guess I'll sell the beach house.

You have a beach house? No way!! You're like real rich and stuff huh?

Hehe...... Don't mind me. Just being silly