Scientists are sounding the alarm about a volcano eruption in Antartica that could cause global health problems. The ash from this eruption could encircle the globe, affecting millions of people.
Deception Island, off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, is a hotbed of volcanic activity with at least 50 craters spread across the region. A recent study done in the area by scientists has found evidence that an eruption on the island could disrupt air traffic on continents in the Southern Hemisphere, including South America and Africa. It could also cause some major health concerns for the whole globe.
The findings of the research show that Antarctica’s volcanoes can have an effect across the world, says Charles Connor, a geoscientist at the University of South Florida in Tampa not involved in the research. “We have to reassess the potential hazards for global transportation networks posed by even these remote volcanoes.”
“Ash emitted during explosive volcanic eruptions may disperse over vast areas of the globe posing a threat to human health and infrastructures and causing significant disruption to air traffic,” scientists warned in their report. “Volcanic ash emitted from Antarctic volcanoes could potentially encircle the globe, leading to significant consequences for global aviation safety.”
The study revealed the “significant consequences to global aviation” after reviewing computer models of ash flows from different types of eruption during different seasons. The research is the first of its kind investigating the horrifying impact of ash from an Antarctic volcano on the rest of the word. “No attention has been paid to the potential socio-economic and environmental consequences of an ash-forming eruption occurring at high southern latitudes,” the study declared.
Adelina Geyer, a geologist at the Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera in Barcelona, Spain, and colleagues focused on Deception Island because of its history of eruptions—30 or so in the past 10,000 years, and one as recently as 1970. It is also a popular destination: Both Argentina and Spain manage scientific research bases on the island, and tourists come to admire the world’s largest colony of chinstrap penguins and the rusted boilers and tanks that are relics of the early 20th century whaling industry there.
Geyer’s team modeled an eruption on Deception Island by simulating different column heights for volcanic ash: 5, 10, and 15 kilometers. (Indonesia’s Mount Agung, when it erupted last month, sent ash billowing up 9 kilometers.) The height of the plume determines which wind patterns it encounters, which, in turn, affects its dispersal. The researchers used an atmospheric transport model to track the way ash would disperse on regional and global scales and assess its possible effect on air travel. –Science Mag
The impact on the global economy could be immense. The eruption of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull in 2010 cost the global economy £3.49billion ($4.7billion) by grounding flights across Europe.
But the health effects of an eruption on Deception Island could be even more horrific than the economic impact. Volcanic ash distributed globally could cause health issue worldwide.
It’s very hard for the ash to cross the equator (coriolis effect). But Antarctica is only one of many places on the globe experiencing increased volcanic activity. Is somebody trying to tell us something?
Agree about Coriolis.
And yes, the ice is melting and we are ALL gunna DROWN!
Mr Gore said so!
The Gov’t is some how responsible and or involved with all of these magical quakes going on all around and all over the damn US.
Better sock up on true HEPA filters and H95 masks along with duct tape and plastic sheeting
but, but, but…. how could a cold place like Antarctica have a volcano? Wouldn’t the lava be frozen? LOL. And it it did erupt… wouldn’t most of the ejecta just be water turned to steam? Most likely just transform that continent into the world’s largest open-air spa. (just kidding guys, just kidding)
I’m sure the left will blame the volcanoes on faux global warming
Mt Erebus has been in a state of eruption down there since Adam was a lad!
Some say. Volcanic ash on our minerally depleted farm land would be good?
Health problems would be the least of your concerns if there was an eruption that big.
I don’t know much about volcanoes but after more than 50 years in the business I do know about airplanes. The phrase “Planes are under threat because the ash can clog engines and fuel lines causing them to stall and potentially fall out of the sky.“ shows abysmal ignorance. The first four words are the only ones that could contain some truth although Alaskan Airlines has done a lot to mitigate the threat to airplanes.
The entire article (focusing on Southern air traffic) is complete bunk as there is no South Pole and Antartica is not an isolated island but the perimeter of our flat plane. Do some research on the intercontinental flights from Santiago to Australia or South Africa to New Zealand…You’ll see that they ALL go through the Northern Hemisphere on a straight line to their destination. (I.e. through North America or Dubai). Makes NO sense for a flight from South Africa to go “up” to Dubai in the Northern Hemisphere only to come back “down” into the Southern hemisphere to land in Australia…Take a look at a Flat Earth Map, and you’ll quickly see why this routing is a necessity. Santiago to Sydney going through Los Angeles? Yep. Check the map, you’ll see why.
-Dad
Whenever you can see what you are breathing and nothing else, you’re in deep sh*t.
Remember the movie “Elf” where Buddy the elf had a run-in with Miles Finch, a little person (dwarf). Because of his height, Buddy kept calling Finch an elf. After the fight, Buddy said “Must be a south pole elf!”. Buddy knew what he was talking about. South Pole elves are notorious for being vicious, worthless, low-lifes. If there is a volcanic eruption which wipes their race out, good!! I’ll probably be picketed by South Pole Elf Lives Matter. Don’t care.