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Chilean Andes Study Confirms Melting Ice Fuels Explosive Volcanoes

New geochemical evidence shows swift glacier retreat depressurizes magma reservoirs beneath the Andes, pointing to the risk of reactivating dormant volcanoes worldwide.

Pablo Moreno-Yaeger is collecting samples near the caldera of Mocho-Choshuenco, which the researchers dated at 11,500 years ago. "Mocho" means "headless" in Mapuche language, referring to the caldera that is always covered by ice.
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Overview

  • Researchers applied argon dating and crystal analysis to six Chilean Andes volcanoes to reconstruct how past ice-age advances and retreats shaped magma storage and eruption intensity.
  • The team found that rapid deglaciation removes overburden pressure on deep magma chambers, causing gas expansion that triggers more frequent and explosive eruptions.
  • These results extend observations from Iceland to continental settings and highlight the potential awakening of hundreds of subglacial volcanoes, especially under Antarctic ice.
  • Scientists note a centuries-long lag between ice-mass change and volcanic response, offering a critical window for enhanced monitoring and early-warning systems.
  • While eruptions can inject cooling aerosols into the atmosphere, repeated volcanic activity may drive long-term warming through cumulative greenhouse gas emissions.