Active Volcano Found Under Antarctic Ice: Eruption Could Raise Sea Levels - Polidicks

[IMG]http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/735/cache/west-antarctica-ice-sheet-volcano-discovery_73571_990x742.jpg[/IMG] [url]http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/13/131118-antarctica-volcano-earthquakes-erupt-sea-level-rise-science/[/url] [url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/18/volcano-under-antarctica_n_4295985.html[/url] [B][U]NatGeo:[/U][/B] [QUOTE]A newly discovered volcano found buried beneath a thick layer of ice in Antarctica could speed up ice loss and raise global sea levels when it erupts, scientists say. The finding, detailed in the current issue of Nature Geoscience, marks the first time that an active volcano has been discovered under the ice of the frozen continent. (Also see "Giant Undersea Volcanoes Found Off Antarctica.") When it erupts—which no one can predict—the volcano "will create millions of gallons of water beneath the ice—many lakes full," study leader Doug Wiens, professor of earth and planetary science at Washington University in St. Louis, said in a statement. This water will rush beneath the ice toward the sea and feed into one of the major ice streams that drain ice from Antarctica into the Ross Ice Shelf, Wiens explained. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE]What would happen in an eruption? The volcano is covered by more than half a mile (one kilometer) of ice, so it would have to be an extraordinarily powerful eruption to breach the surface. However, the heat from the volcano could increase melting at the base of the glacier and meltwater could act like a lubricant that makes the overlying ice flow out to sea faster. Global sea levels could rise by a small amount as a result. "We're not talking about an eruption causing the ice sheet to melt and cause catastrophic sea-level rise," Lough told National Geographic. "This volcanic complex has been operating for millions of years ... There have been past eruptions of this system and the ice has survived for millions of years, [so] future eruptions alone will not cause the ice sheet to fail."[/QUOTE] [B][U]HuffPost:[/U][/B] [QUOTE]Earthquakes deep below West Antarctica reveal an active volcano hidden beneath the massive ice sheet, researchers said today (Nov. 17) in a study published in the journal Nature Geoscience. The discovery finally confirms long-held suspicions of volcanic activity concealed by the vast West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Several volcanoes poke up along the Antarctic coast and its offshore islands, such as Mount Erebus, but this is the first time anyone has caught magma in action far from the coast. "This is really the golden age of discovery of the Antarctic continent," said Richard Aster, a co-author of the study and a seismologist at Colorado State University. "I think there's no question that there are more volcanic surprises beneath the ice." The volcano was a lucky find. The research project, called POLENET, was intended to reveal the structure of Earth's mantle, the layer beneath the crust. In 2010, a team led by scientists from Washington University in St. Louis spent weeks slogging across the snow, pulling sleds laden with earthquake-monitoring equipment. Right place, right time Two earthquake swarms struck beneath the researchers' feet in January 2010 and March 2011, near the Executive Committee Range in the Marie Byrd Land region of the continent. As the researchers later discovered, the tremors — called deep, long-period earthquakes (DLPs) — were nearly identical to DLPs detected under active volcanoes in Alaska and Washington. The swarms were 15 to 25 miles (25 to 40 kilometers) below the surface. "It's an exciting story," said Amanda Lough, the study's lead author and a graduate student in seismology at Washington University in St. Louis. Though there were no signs of a blast, a 3,200-foot-tall (1,000 meters) bulge under the ice suggests the volcano had blasted out lava in the past, forming a budding peak.[/QUOTE]

Apparently everyone's forgotten how ice works, seeing as it's 2/3rds air, and not 100% water. There's also evaporation so any additional water will cause no change in sea level.

Alright mother earth we get it you want us to die faster, but could you just, please, wait for [I]my[/I] generation to still live happily? Once I am done here you can bury the rest in venomous spiders if you want.

[QUOTE=Itauske Roken;42915627]Apparently everyone's forgotten how ice works, seeing as it's 2/3rds air, and not 100% water. There's also evaporation so any additional water will cause no change in sea level.[/QUOTE] it's your word against every newspapers source the dreaded "scientists"

[QUOTE=Itauske Roken;42915627]Apparently everyone's forgotten how ice works, seeing as it's 2/3rds air, and not 100% water. There's also evaporation so any additional water will cause no change in sea level.[/QUOTE] Apparently you've forgotten how much ice there is and how the water cycle works. Evaporation eventually falls to earth as precipitation, which flows into rivers and streams that eventually all lead into the oceans. I learned this in like, 4th grade.

[QUOTE=Itauske Roken;42915627]Apparently everyone's forgotten how ice works, seeing as it's 2/3rds air, and not 100% water. There's also evaporation so any additional water will cause no change in sea level.[/QUOTE] you haven't read the article have you? [QUOTE]When it erupts—which no one can predict—the volcano "will create millions of gallons of water beneath the ice—many lakes full," study leader Doug Wiens, professor of earth and planetary science at Washington University in St. Louis, said in a statement. This water will rush beneath the ice toward the sea and feed into one of the major ice streams that drain ice from Antarctica into the Ross Ice Shelf, Wiens explained.[/QUOTE]

If it hasn't exploded duing millions and millions of years then I dont think it will.

[QUOTE=Itauske Roken;42915627]Apparently everyone's forgotten how ice works, seeing as it's 2/3rds air, and not 100% water. There's also evaporation so any additional water will cause no change in sea level.[/QUOTE] Are you, actually special? The heat a volcano will generate would still melt an absolutely staggering amount of ice.

[QUOTE=Golgo 13;42915646]it's your word against every newspapers source the dreaded "scientists"[/QUOTE] It's a commonly known fact that water when it freezes expands, when it melts it contracts. The only way the oceans will increase past it's current sea level is if suddenly every amount of water on earth known and unknown filled the oceans at once. And that would take quite a bit of time, most likely a month or more. And half of Nation Geographic is into the whole 'global warming water will raise the sea levels if the ice caps melted' bs because they're buying into whatever Al Gore (who is not a scientist by the way) says about climate change. Consensus =/= Science.

[QUOTE=Fatfatfatty;42915730]If it hasn't exploded duing millions and millions of years then I dont think it will.[/QUOTE] That's not how geological processes work. [editline]19th November 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Itauske Roken;42915758]It's a commonly known fact that water when it freezes expands, when it melts it contracts. The only way the oceans will increase past it's current sea level is if suddenly every amount of water on earth known and unknown filled the oceans at once. And that would take quite a bit of time, most likely a month or more. And half of Nation Geographic is into the whole 'global warming water will raise the sea levels if the ice caps melted' bs because they're buying into whatever Al Gore (who is not a scientist by the way) says about climate change. Consensus =/= Science.[/QUOTE] Ice floats mate, on top of water, that's why melting the water increases the sea level. Holy shit man, logic 101.

[QUOTE=Fatfatfatty;42915730]If it hasn't exploded duing millions and millions of years then I dont think it will.[/QUOTE] you also didn't read the article [QUOTE]Why is the discovery important? Lough and her team say it's not a matter of if the newly discovered volcano will erupt, but when. "It most likely has erupted before," Lough said. (Watch video: Volcanoes 101.) That's because the volcano sits atop a raised portion of land that the team believes is composed of previously erupted material.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=bravehat;42915762]That's not how geological processes work. [editline]19th November 2013[/editline] Ice floats mate, on top of water, that's why melting the water increases the sea level. Holy shit man, logic 101.[/QUOTE] Cup of water and ice cube, measure it's water line with the ice in it and then measure the water line after the ice cube melts. THEN come back and give me your sea level raising bs.

So this volcano might the be final catalyst that gives us that final push out of the ice age? Seeing as technically we are still in the ice age, just thawing really really slowly.

How do you melt water

[QUOTE=Fatfatfatty;42915730]If it hasn't exploded duing millions and millions of years then I dont think it will.[/QUOTE] I'd like to remind you about krakatoa

[QUOTE=bravehat;42915762]Ice floats mate, on top of water, that's why melting the water increases the sea level. Holy shit man, logic 101.[/QUOTE] Floating ice displaces a volume of water that is proportional to its weight. When it melts it occupies that volume. Ergo no change in height from that reason alone. The reason that melting ice around Antarctica, Greenland, etc would cause a rise is because the ice isn't floating. It's sitting on top of land and not displacing water. Additionally, ocean temperature increases would result in some degree of raising water levels due to thermal expansion. The amount of stupid in this thread is ridiculous. It's like you people haven't even had a high school physics course or some shit. Jesus christ.

[QUOTE=Zephyrs;42915970]Floating ice displaces a volume of water that is proportional to its weight. When it melts it occupies that volume. Ergo no change in height from that reason alone. The reason that melting ice around Antarctica, Greenland, etc would cause a rise is because the ice isn't floating. It's sitting on top of land and not displacing water. Additionally, ocean temperature increases would result in some degree of raising water levels due to thermal expansion. The amount of stupid in this thread is ridiculous. It's like you people haven't even had a high school physics course or some shit. Jesus christ.[/QUOTE] I for one haven't been to high school since I graduated almost 6 years ago. All knowledge gained back then has been put to no use. My job is so shit I can do it with my eyes closed using minimal brain power. Unless you specialize in something, you can't be expected to know too much about it.

[QUOTE=Itauske Roken;42915627]Apparently everyone's forgotten how ice works, seeing as it's 2/3rds air, and not 100% water. There's also evaporation so any additional water will cause no change in sea level.[/QUOTE] Ice is nowhere near 2/3rds air. Ice [I]is[/I] less dense than water, but that doesn't mean that its part air, and it's definitely not 1/3rd as dense. Some of the water would evaporate, but then water would then rain back down, so the net change due to the water cycle would be minimal. Especially since rising temperatures would keep more water as liquid and vapor than as ice. [QUOTE=Itauske Roken;42915758]It's a commonly known fact that water when it freezes expands, when it melts it contracts. The only way the oceans will increase past it's current sea level is if suddenly every amount of water on earth known and unknown filled the oceans at once. And that would take quite a bit of time, most likely a month or more. And half of Nation Geographic is into the whole 'global warming water will raise the sea levels if the ice caps melted' bs because they're buying into whatever Al Gore (who is not a scientist by the way) says about climate change. Consensus =/= Science.[/QUOTE] It wouldn't take every amount of ice on earth. It would be [I]less[/I] sea level rise than if all ice melted, of course, but it wouldn't be 'none'. And no one gives a shit about Al Gore. IPCC and [url=http://extremeicesurvey.org/]Extreme Ice Survey[/url], on the other hand... [QUOTE=bravehat;42915762]Ice floats mate, on top of water, that's why melting the water increases the sea level. Holy shit man, logic 101.[/QUOTE] Ice that's in water doesn't raise the water level. Do you know how density works? Plus, the ice doesn't float 'on top', it floats [I]in[/I]. However, ice that's [I]on land[/I], on the other hand, would definitely raise the water level.

[QUOTE=Itauske Roken;42915627]Apparently everyone's forgotten how ice works, seeing as it's 2/3rds air, and not 100% water. There's also evaporation so any additional water will cause no change in sea level.[/QUOTE] "Ice is 2/3rds air"

[QUOTE=Itauske Roken;42915801]Cup of water and ice cube, measure it's water line with the ice in it and then measure the water line after the ice cube melts. THEN come back and give me your sea level raising bs.[/QUOTE] well good thing this ice is on a volcano and not floating on the sea

[QUOTE=Itauske Roken;42915627]Apparently everyone's forgotten how ice works, seeing as it's 2/3rds air, and not 100% water. There's also evaporation so any additional water will cause no change in sea level.[/QUOTE] Do you think this evaporated water magically disappears into space or some shit?

[QUOTE=Itauske Roken;42915801]Cup of water and ice cube, measure it's water line with the ice in it and then measure the water line after the ice cube melts. THEN come back and give me your sea level raising bs.[/QUOTE] I don't know why everyone is rating him dumb - from a physics standpoint, that is absolutely correct. If you take a glass, put 5 ice cubes in it, fill it to the brim, and wait for it to melt - the water will remain in the glass. The only ice that [I]would[/I] matter is ice that's not floating. In other words, it wouldn't be as dramatic as most documentaries and sensationalist articles portray it.

Aw hell yiss Doug Wiens we have the same last name. Nature is crazy.

[QUOTE=Fatfatfatty;42915730]If it hasn't exploded duing millions and millions of years then I dont think it will.[/QUOTE] It's an active volcano, not a dormant one, so yes, it will someday.

[QUOTE=Itauske Roken;42915801]Cup of water and ice cube, measure it's water line with the ice in it and then measure the water line after the ice cube melts. THEN come back and give me your sea level raising bs.[/QUOTE] Hey broski, guess what, the south pole is solid land and is covered in almost 30 million cubic kilometers of ice. If [I]that[/I] melts, sea level will rise, and [I]that[/I] is where the volcano is ya dingus.

[QUOTE=Stopper;42916107]I don't know why everyone is rating him dumb - from a physics standpoint, that is absolutely correct. If you take a glass, put 5 ice cubes in it, fill it to the brim, and wait for it to melt - the water will remain in the glass. The only ice that [I]would[/I] matter is ice that's not floating. In other words, it wouldn't be as dramatic as most documentaries and sensationalist articles portray it.[/QUOTE] That fact is correct; it's how he's applying it. No one who knows what they're talking about is worried about sea ice raising the sea level. Hell, sea ice melts and refreezes every year. What [I]is[/I] worrying is melting glaciers and ice caps. Although, to be fair, it was in reply to a comment that was wrong, so I'll give him points for that.

[QUOTE=Stopper;42916107]I don't know why everyone is rating him dumb - from a physics standpoint, that is absolutely correct. If you take a glass, put 5 ice cubes in it, fill it to the brim, and wait for it to melt - the water will remain in the glass. The only ice that [I]would[/I] matter is ice that's not floating. In other words, it wouldn't be as dramatic as most documentaries and sensationalist articles portray it.[/QUOTE] And if you have a glass full of water and ice, the water level isn't higher when the ice melts?

[QUOTE=Tippmann357;42916152]And if you have a glass full of water and ice, the water level isn't higher when the ice melts?[/QUOTE] Ice suspended in water will not raise the water level period. If you put the ice on the lid of a cup with holes in it, the cup would fill as the ice melted. [editline]19th November 2013[/editline] Sea ice: [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/aCeByZ3.jpg[/img_thumb] Melts and refreezes regularly and has no real effect on the sea level. Ice Shelfs: [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/LTysk5f.jpg[/img_thumb] Do not melt annually and actually hold most of the earths fresh water locked up inside them. If these melt the sea level will rise significantly. [img]http://i.imgur.com/8ameEHb.jpg[/img] Shelf ice increases the sea level because it is not floating like ice cubes in a drink. It only adds when it melts. (and subtracts when it freezes)

Christ, this thread is my 4th grade science class all over again

[QUOTE=OvB;42916223]Ice suspended in water will not raise the water level period. If you put the ice on the lid of a cup with holes in it, the cup would fill as the ice melted. [/QUOTE] Hmm, I think I got my ideas of displacement tangled up.