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Magma Chamber Response to Ice Unloading: Applications to Volcanism in the West Antarctic Rift System.
A N Coonin1, C Huber1, J Troch2
1Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences Brown University Providence RI USA.
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems : G(3)
|December 2, 2024
Summary
Volcanic activity beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet can accelerate melting. Ice loss alters magma systems, potentially increasing volcanic eruptions and further destabilizing the ice sheet.
Area of Science:
- Geophysics
- Glaciology
- Volcanology
Background:
- Volcanic eruptions near ice sheets cause melting.
- Melting ice sheets reduce crustal pressure, influencing underlying magma systems.
- A positive feedback loop between glaciation and volcanism is observed in the Andes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of ice unloading on subglacial volcanic activity in West Antarctica.
- To model the effects of decreasing ice load on magma chamber dynamics and eruption behavior.
- To assess how volcano-ice interactions influence ice sheet stability and sea-level rise.
Main Methods:
- Adapted a thermomechanical magma chamber model.
- Simulated shrinking ice loads by decreasing lithostatic pressure.
- Investigated varying unloading rates and their effects on magma volatile partitioning and eruptive trajectories.
Main Results:
- The rate of ice unloading significantly impacts the cumulative mass erupted.
- Unloading influences the heat released into the ice sheet.
- Subglacial volcanism in West Antarctica is sensitive to ice sheet dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Volcano-ice interactions in West Antarctica are complex and bidirectional.
- Unloading-triggered volcanism may contribute to uncertainties in ice loss projections.
- Understanding these processes is crucial for accurate sea-level rise predictions.
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