DoomsdaysCWHow #ClimateChange impacts #volcanic activity
By Jane Marsh on March 1, 2022
"Researchers at Leeds wanted to understand how the pressure exerted by Earth’s #glaciers onto the crust impacts movements below the surface. This process, known as 'surface loading,' can change the flow of magma and thus lead to more volcanic activity.
"The study, which took place in 2017, looked back at the activity of #Iceland’s many #volcanoes 4500 to 5500 years ago, when Earth was still recovering from the latest Ice Age.
"Based on the amount of ash deposited in the surrounding area, they concluded that the island’s volcanoes became more active and extreme as more ice melted.
"While they’re unsure of the details, the mechanics that explain this phenomenon are straightforward. Glaciers put immense pressure on the Earth’s surface, restricting the flow of magma. When the glaciers melt, magma can move more freely, bubbling to the surface and erupting more easily.
"The Cambridge study, released in 2021, suggests that climate change will transform the cooling effects of volcanic eruptions. As the atmosphere warms, the smoke and fumes from eruptions will be able to rise higher. The fumes might also travel farther, affecting regions half a world away."
How climate change impacts volcanic activity
Photo: Pixabay/Julius_Silver As human-made climate change becomes more influential, we can expect to see more extreme responses from our environment. Among these responses is increased volcanic activity. If our world’s conditions stay on their current trajectory, volcanic eruptions will likely increase during the coming decades. But how exactly does climate change affect volcanic activity? Volcanoes […]
JohnE