Scientists find 91 volcanoes under Antarctica ice sheets
Volcanic activity is not thought to have led to melting ice caps, say reports

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Scientists have discovered a cluster of 91 volcanoes underneath the ice caps of West Antarctica, some of which are over 12,600ft (3,850m) tall.
The study, undertaken by the University of Edinburgh, has now located a total of 138 volcanoes in a rejoin called the West Antarctic Rift System. It's not known whether these are active or dormant.
Geologists and ice experts say the range has similarities to east Africa's volcanic ridge, currently thought to be "the densest concentration of volcanoes in the world," reports The Independent.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The scientists analysed the shape of the land below the ice sheets using "ice-penetrating radar", the website says. They then compared the findings with "satellite and database records, as well as geological information from aerial surveys."
Using this method, the study identified volcanoes ranging from 328 feet (100 metres) to just over 12,600 feet (3,850 metres) in height, reports The Verge, with diameters of two miles (3.2km) and up to 40 miles (64.4km).
The findings could have "major implications for our understanding of the region and the massive ice sheet that covers it", the site says. Despite the possibility that some of the volcanoes are active, scientists don't believe "volcanic activity has played a role in the present retreat of the ice sheet."
Dr Robert Bingham from the University of Edinburgh told Sky News that a "better understanding of volcanic activity could shed light on their impact on Antarctica's ice in the past, present and future and on other rift systems around the world".
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
The daily gossip: Man arrested in connection with shooting of Tupac Shakur, OceanGate movie in the works, and more
Feature The daily gossip: September 29, 2023
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
What to expect from an El Niño winter
The Explainer Things might be different thanks to this well-known weather phenomenon
By Devika Rao Published
-
The week’s best photojournalism
In Pictures A steaming volcano, a giant crater and more
By Anahi Valenzuela Published
-
What is a 'feminist approach' to cancer care?
The Explainer 800,000 women die from 'preventable' cancers each year due to 'patriarchy', landmark study finds
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How do we calculate mass deaths?
The Explainer Recent revisions to 9/11, Libyan flood and Covid-19 death tolls raise questions over estimates
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mining company apologises for losing potentially deadly radioactive capsule
Speed Read ‘Needle-in-a-haystack search’ underway in Western Australia covering hundreds of miles
By The Week Staff Published
-
Will new Covid testing rules for China prevent the spread of new variants?
Today's Big Question Curbs on travellers from China are being introduced worldwide in a bid to stop the emergence of new coronavirus strains
By Arion McNicoll Published
-
Milky Way’s neutron stars akin to a Ferrero Rocher praline
Speed Read Experts make a mouth-watering breakthrough to explain structure of stars
By The Week Staff Published
-
Rides continue for those trapped inside Shanghai Disney
Speed Read Guests at the resort will not be allowed to leave without a negative Covid test
By The Week Staff Published
-
Men better at dieting than women
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By The Week Staff Published
-
How long can China’s strict Covid laws last?
Talking Point Beijing may move to more relaxed approach as economic toll mounts
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published