Saturday, September 15, 2007
Can Global Warming trigger volcano eruptions?
British scientists are warning of another possible side effect of climate change: a surge of dangerous volcanic eruptions.
Researchers say the melting of polar ice sheets from global warming and the resulting stress placed on the earth's crust from rising sea levels will increase eruptions in the years to come.
University College London climate expert Dr Bill McGuire says there could also be an increase in undersea earthquakes and tsunamis.
"There is already evidence for earthquakes in Alaska being triggered by unloading by ice," he said.
"Also evidence of this volcano Pavlof in Alaska erupting in the winter when sea levels rise slightly due to weather conditions, just 30 centimetres."
"So, if we see one to two metres of sea level rise this century, accompanied by mass wasting of the glaciers in the polar region, so we can expect a response by the crust within the next few decades."
Researchers say the melting of polar ice sheets from global warming and the resulting stress placed on the earth's crust from rising sea levels will increase eruptions in the years to come.
University College London climate expert Dr Bill McGuire says there could also be an increase in undersea earthquakes and tsunamis.
"There is already evidence for earthquakes in Alaska being triggered by unloading by ice," he said.
"Also evidence of this volcano Pavlof in Alaska erupting in the winter when sea levels rise slightly due to weather conditions, just 30 centimetres."
"So, if we see one to two metres of sea level rise this century, accompanied by mass wasting of the glaciers in the polar region, so we can expect a response by the crust within the next few decades."
# posted by kevin : 11:47 AM
