Volcano, Not Global Warming Effects, May be Melting an Antarctic Glacier

5 years ago Science

Scientists have discovered a layer of volcanic ash and glass shards in Antarctica, evidence of an old eruption by a still active volcano that researchers believe may be contributing to the thinning of Antarctic glacial ice.

pineislandA NASA photo of the Pine Island glacial shelf

Hugh F.J. Corr and David G. Vaughan, two scientists with the British Antarctic Survey, recently published their discovery of the volcanic layer in the journal Nature Geoscience. The discovery is unique according to Dr. Vaughan. He said “This is the first time we have seen a volcano beneath the ice sheet punch a hole through the ice sheet.”

The volcano’s heat could possibly be melting and thinning the ice and raising the speed of the Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica.

But while the Pine Island Glacier may be thinning because of the volcano, it’s highly unlikely the thinning of Antarctica’s ice sheet as a whole can be blamed on hidden volcanoes. For one thing, Antarctica has very few active volcanoes. Most glacial scientists, including Dr. Vaughan himself, blame warmer ocean waters for glacial thinning in West Antarctica.

The ash and glass layer the scientists discovered was most likely deposited around the time of Alexander the Great. The eruption would have exploded upwards, pushing through hundreds of metres of ice, spraying ash and volcanic glass shards all over the land surrounding it. Two millennia of snows have covered the volcanic layer, but recent radar surveys found it.

In fact, radar teams discovered the layer in 2004 and 2005, but the reflected radar waves from the layer were so strong they thought it was actual bedrock. A more recent radar survey with improved equipment meant the team discovered the actual bedrock, and thus the layer above it.

The thickness of the ice above the layer mean that the scientists could date it to roughly 200 B.C., plus or minus 240 years or so. But the researchers think they can narrow it down more than that. From previous examinations of ice cores, they knew that a volcano had erupted in Antarctica some time around 325 B.C., although they had not known where the eruption had happened. Dr. Vaughan said: “We’re fairly confident this is the same eruption.”

Source: New York Times

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Written by: Chris

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Old Comments

nj555 says

Jul 8th, 2009 at 12am
global warming has been happening since the ice age, there is no stopping it, we might be able to slow down the process but we cant put an end to it

Samantha says

May 27th, 2009 at 12am
In your guess do you think that there really is a center of the earth. And I would also like to see really volcano scans over the world on your website. And it would really help me with me research about the center of the world. What if the patterns of the volcanoes can open a passage or something. Well thank you for reading my comment. And if you do put updated volcano scans on your website then that would make me really happy thank yuo

anomous says

May 14th, 2009 at 12am
scienctist atr fakes

Willie McDonald says

Mar 2nd, 2009 at 12am
The Truth about Global Warming -The Apocalypse: Page 1 of 7. This report is the condense version. This report proves green house gases are not responsible for global warming. My purpose is to gain support for this report. Global warming-the apocalypse can be stopped, with your help. If not stopped the sun’s heat will dominate this planet’s weather, and generate unusual weather patterns, to the point where the only thing to eat will be other people. The real reason for global warming is the earth’s orbit around the sun is decaying, in other words the earth is moving closer to the sun. The earth is a planet that functions like a machine. In fact It’s more like a machine, than a planet. Like a car, truck, aircraft, or rocket. The earth has a fuel system, an engine system, and exhaust system. A car’s engine system generates torque, an aircraft’s engine systems generates thrust, and the earth’s engine system generates a powerful magnetic field, and the earth’s magnetic field protects all life on this planet, and beneath the oceans. The earth’ magnetic field keeps the earth at a safe distance from the sun, and the core is the earth’s engine. The earth’s fuel system is referred to as oil wells/ crude oil reservoirs. They are actually self pressurizing fuel cells. Like any machine, if you were to shut off fuel to the engine, the engine will stop operating. The oil company’s crude oil extraction process compromises the earth’s fuel system, and shut off fuel to the earth’s engine (the core), by releasing pressure out of the earth’s fuel system (oil wells). Normally the pressure in a crude oil well/ reservoir is tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of pounds per square inch. Under normal circumstance the core (the engine) stays at a constant 5000 to 7000 degrees celsius, and that’s hot enough to melt steel, and the pressure in the core is tens of thousands to hundreds of pounds per square inch. The oil is ignited long before it reaches the core, and enters the core as flames. Crude oil a hydrocarbon is capable of generating those temperatures in the core. Hydrocarbons are used to melt, and manufacture steel. The higher the temperature in the core, and the stronger the earth’s magnetic field. The cooler the core, the weaker the earth’s magnetic field. The earth’s engine is being fuel starved, and it is slowly cooling. As the core cools the earth’s magnetic field weakens, and the earth is being pulled closer to the sun Global Warming has nothing to do with green house gases, holes in the ozone, CFC, R-12 refrigerant, and aerosol propellant, etc. The only way to reverse global warming-the apocalypse is for the oil companies to re-pressurize the earth’s fuel systems. One way this can be accomplished, by igniting the methane gas in them. The ignited gas will expand, and create the pressure need to force the remaining crude oil (fuel) into the core. This is the real cause for global warming, and the only way it can be reversed. Volcanoes are the earth’s exhaust system. Volcanoes are designed to rid the core (the earth’s engine) of spent fuel, debris, and they regulate the pressure in the core, which is generated by the combustion of crude oil. The pressure that’s release from volcanoes is provided by carbon dioxide, nitrogen, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and these are all crude oil by-product, including the pressure. These gases, and the pressure proves that a hydrocarbon is being burned in the core of this planet. The earth, and conditions on it are changing, and not for the better. 12 noon use to be the hottest part of the day, now it 3 o’clock in the after noon. The winters are getting sunny, and warmer from latitude (zero) to latitude (29.0- N, and 29.0- S), during winter. Both polar ice caps are melting, and the oceans are rising. The earth has shifted on it’s axes by15 degrees. The earth is moving away from the moon 4 cm each year, and the distance have increase by 220,000 miles over the decades. Floods, and tornadoes are developing in winter, from latitude (29.0 -N) to latitude (35.28 N), and higher latitudes. Two leap seconds had to be added to the atomic clock, because the earth rotation is slowing down. It’s getting noticeably hotter every 15 to 20 years. Our grand children are in grave danger! Written by: Willie McDonald: cdnld30@gmail.com: 832-889-2058. Copyright-2008

will says

Feb 15th, 2009 at 12am
that is a load of bullshit theres is inequivocal evidence that humans have very likley been the driving force behind climate change in the last 50 years, which would definately lead to the glacial meltings, which makes it very UNlikely that Volcanoes are the sole reason for the melting ice

bh says

Jan 23rd, 2009 at 12am
Protecting our environment is no doubt crucial to our existance, unfortunately the environmental movement is a little confused. Pollutants such as Nitrates, Sulfates, and other particulates are what needs to be targeted. Those are what results in smog, acid rain, and the poisoning of our water supply and soil. All this focus on CO2 is distracting from the real problems. The solution to the CO2 problem, if AGW alarmists are right, has an extremely simple solution. Stop cutting down the forests and start planting them. Ironically it is the "green" movement's search for alternative fuel sources that is adding to the deforestation.

Les says

Oct 3rd, 2008 at 12am
Mother Nature made Goble warming. First a volcano has been identified as causing the glacier to melt. Now we have a sun that has gone about 60 days with out any major sun spot activity. The sun did have a start of a small one as predicted but then collapsed. Now recently penguins are following the ocean currents and are now starting to show up on the northern coast of Australia. Not to mention the expansion of the glacier on Mount Shasta. Good stewardship of the environment is everyone’s responsibility but to use fear mongering to push an agenda to line some pockets with money is not right either. Where would we be if everyone had listed to the global cooling freaks of the 1970’s, with the idea of painting the polls with coal dust to help warm the planet?

mon says

Jun 7th, 2008 at 12am
has it to do with global warming al thes things ? what has volcanos nd orkans to do with global warming dont understand :S please reply to this comment.!

RespectsJesus says

May 29th, 2008 at 12am
Will Jesus rescue the pro global-warmist or the anti warmist.

John says

May 27th, 2008 at 12am
#19 is by far the most sensible of the above. Personally I'm a big believer in the mirror world idea, we go one way in pattern and the other side of the mirror goes the other way, time is an illusion in an electro-magnetic-spin reality, we have assumed it is "normal" to be born via a woman and die and go in a box but the people on the other side assume it is "normal" to be born in a box and die inside a woman. When you think about it both are prejudiced ideas, someone must sit at the mirror's surface, hence me saying #19 is the most sensible as it is only from the mirror's surface that the truth about good and evil etc can be seen. We see glaciers melting and people all over the world dying as they are flooded out but on the other side they see people suddenly appearing as water disappears and glaciers build up. We are not fit to judge what is good or bad until we learn to think as God does and this is probably how he thinks, ..... or is it she thinks? I can never remember. With this freedom to act God can do whatever he/she wants as no-one loses really when both sides of all the mirror worlds are considered. Personally I expect large earthquakes in Antarctica and a huge melting of the glaciers such that all ice will be gone from there within a decade, we will adapt or die, God doesn't care which we choose to do. http://royaldutchshellplc.com/2008/01/06/crackpot-or-genius-has-a-shell-boffin-stumbled-on-a-scientific-breakthrough/