Under the ice of Antarctica, live volcanoes

2013/11/27 Leturia Yurrita, Iñaki - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Geologia

For the first time, a group of American geologists discovered the test of an active volcano under the ice layer of Antarctica. He has visited the site of the Land of Marie Byrd, west of the continent. There are many remains of ancient volcanoes, but it was thought that they were already off. However, a network of seismometers detected a succession of earthquakes in the years 2010 and 2011, and now studies confirm that magma movements can be. The depth has been the reason to affirm that what moves is the magma and not the ice: Between 25 and 40 kilometers have located the source of vibration. No earthquake could be due to the duration of the vibration and the frequency of the signal received. This discovery has also nullified the belief that Antarctica was asleep from the seismological point of view.

In the same place of the movements, with radar signals, have detected an accumulation of volcanic ash, of 8,000 years ago and that can be the cone of a volcano. All this under almost 2 kilometers of ice. The question is now, what consequences can this discovery have, since these kinds of vibrations are often pre-eruption warnings. According to the researchers, the perforation of the ice layer by an eruption is impossible, but it can affect the movement of the layer. The melted water would increase the speed of the ice currents that go to the sea, which would provoke a greater pour of ice. According to the researchers, it would not be a large-scale ice spill, but it would be noticed and, of course, affect the rise of sea level.