Antarctica’s Fiery Secrets: The Volcanoes of the Icy Continent
Antarctica may be known for its icy landscapes and penguins, but hidden beneath the surface are 138 volcanoes, with 91 of them only recently discovered in 2017. Three of these volcanoes have erupted in recent history, including Penguin Island in 1905, Deception Island in 1970, and the tallest active volcano on the continent, Mount Erebus, in 1972.
Mount Erebus, located on Ross Island, is not only the southernmost active volcano on Earth but has been continuously erupting since at least 1972. The volcano emits plumes of gas and steam, occasionally hurling rock bombs. What makes Mount Erebus even more intriguing is the fact that the volcanic gas it emits contains tiny specks of gold, valued at over £4,800 ($6,000) per day. In fact, gold particles from Mount Erebus have been detected as far as 1,000km away from the volcano.
Researchers are faced with the challenge of monitoring and accessing these remote Antarctic volcanoes, making it difficult to predict if they could erupt again in the future. An ancient Antarctic volcano, Mount Takahe, is believed to have caused ozone layer depletion and the end of the last ice age about 18,000 years ago, providing insight into the potential impacts of volcanic activity in the region.
While experts consider the likelihood of a similar eruption in the future to be low, it is not impossible. By looking back in time, scientists hope to uncover more clues about the volatile history of Antarctica’s fiery mountains. As the icy continent continues to reveal its secrets, the volcanoes of Antarctica remain a fascinating and mysterious aspect of this unique environment.
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