Lead author Pablo Moreno Yaeger explains that glaciers suppress volcanic eruptions by exerting pressure on the Earth's crust, and their melting allows for more explosive eruptions.

A new study warns that the melting of glaciers could lead to an increase in the frequency and explosiveness of volcanic eruptions globally, further exacerbating climate change.

Conducted by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the study specifically examines the impact of the retreat of the Patagonian Ice Sheet on volcanic activity in the Chilean Andes, focusing on six volcanoes including Mocho-Choshuenco.

Fieldwork revealed that the thick ice cover over the Mocho-Choshuenco volcano suppressed eruptions for thousands of years, allowing magma to accumulate until the ice began to retreat.

The research highlights that West Antarctica is particularly at risk for a resurgence in volcanic activity, as it contains over 100 volcanoes beneath thick ice that is likely to melt in the coming decades.

This phenomenon of increased volcanic activity due to glacier retreat is not limited to Iceland, where similar patterns have been observed, but also applies to regions in Antarctica, North America, New Zealand, and Russia.

Historically, thick glacial ice has suppressed volcanic eruptions, and the end of the last ice age saw rapid glacier melting that resulted in explosive eruptions due to decreased pressure on magma.

Increased volcanic activity can have significant global climate implications, as eruptions release aerosols that may temporarily cool the planet, but the accumulation of greenhouse gases over time could contribute to long-term global warming.

Scientific reviews emphasize the urgent need for more research into the effects of climate change on volcanic activity, which could help prepare for potential damages from eruptions and their feedback effects on climate.

The study was presented at the Goldschmidt geochemistry conference in Prague and is currently under review for academic publication.

A significant number of potentially active volcanoes, totaling 245, are located under or near ice, raising concerns about the potential for increased volcanic activity as glaciers continue to melt.

Previous research indicated that volcanic activity increased globally two to six times following the last ice age, but this study is among the first to detail the processes behind this phenomenon.