In Antarctica discovered a serious threat to humanity

Scientists have found under the ice of Antarctica volcanoes.

Researchers from Edinburgh University (UK) found under the ice shield of Antarctica 91 previously unknown volcano. Even if one of them were to erupt, it promises big trouble for the human civilization, the researchers say.

On the basis of data obtained from radar, both ground and installed on the aircraft, the researchers found a high concentration of volcanoes in the region known as the West Antarctic rift system, which extends for 3,500 km from the ice shelf of Antarctica to the Antarctic Peninsula.

More volcanoes, scientists expect to find on the Antarctic shelf in the Ross sea. Thus, this region claims to have the highest concentration of volcanoes in the world (so far as such was considered a volcanic ridge East Africa).

Discovered volcanoes have a height of from 100 to 3850 m. they are All covered with ice, which sometimes layers which have a thickness of more than 4 km.

Previously it was known about the 47 volcanoes in Antarctica.

Now scientists have to figure out how high the probability of awakening again open volcanoes. “It is necessary to know as soon as possible”, — said the expert on glaciers Robert Bingham, one of the authors of the article.

If one were to erupt, it could further destabilize the ice sheet, the region that is already affected by global warming. The outflow of melt water into the ocean will raise sea level.

It is unknown how active these volcanoes were in the past. But there is a worrying trend: the most “active” volcanoes in the world are located in regions that were previously covered with ice, — it is, in particular, Iceland and Alaska.

paradox