The big discovery was waiting a group of researchers from the University of Edinburgh.
Researchers from Edinburgh University found the Earth’s largest volcanic massif. It is under a layer of ice with a length of 2 kilometers in the Western part of Antarctica.
Discovered the highest of the volcanoes can be compared with the Eiger (a mountain peak in the Bernese Alps, nearly 4,000 metres above sea level).
Previously it was thought that in the region under the ice are only 47 volcanoes. Scientists analysed data obtained by means of special radars and compared them with satellite imagery of the region and geological data from other studies. As a result, experts have discovered a previously unknown subglacial volcanic massif.
Scientists believe that the eruption detected under-ice volcanoes may not reach the surface, but it will melt the ice on the inside and can cause major environmental changes in Antarctica. As reported by the British Guardian newspaper, Robert Bingham (Robert Bingham), one of the authors of the study, whatever caused the melting of the ice (and volcanic eruption accurately will lead to this), it will accelerate the flow of ice into the sea.
It is unknown how active these volcanoes, the probability of their eruption. However, according to Bingham, recently there has been an alarming trend: volcanic activity increases in regions that have lost their ice sheet recently (e.g., in Iceland and Alaska). It is assumed that this is because in the absence of layers of ice volcanoes are released from under the pressure and become more active.
The same is possible in the Western part of Antarctica where major warming caused by climate change has already begun to affect the ice cover. If all goes according to the above scenario, it will lead to large increases in water level that affect the oceans of the planet.
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