Volcanoes erupting isn’t what most people think of, but this scene could happen as the frozen continent melts, a study has found. Buried under kilometres of frost are some 100 volcanoes in Antarctica,

Melting ice in Antarctica could trigger volcanic eruptions beneath the continent’s vast ice sheet, creating a slow but dangerous feedback loop, scientists warn. A new study suggests the melting of Antarctica’s ice sheet, driven by the climate crisis, may increase volcanic activity under the surface.

Eruptions of subglacial volcanoes may not be visible on the surface, but they can have consequences for the ice sheet. Heat from these eruptions can increase ice melting deep below the surface and weaken the overlying ice sheet — potentially leading to a feedback loop of reduced pressure from the surface and further volcanic eruptions.

Melting Antarctica ice reduces pressure on underground magma, triggering volcanoes. This heats ice, accelerates melting, and raises seas.

A slow climate feedback loop may be bubbling beneath Antarctica's vast ice sheet. The continent, divided east to west by the Transantarctic Mountains, includes volcanic giants such as Mount Erebus and its iconic lava lake.

Researchers fear it could become a vicious cycle of surface pressure being reduced by melting ice, with further volcanic eruptions as a result.

Deep beneath Antarctica’s icy surface lies an ominous secret—a vast network of active volcanoes poised for eruption. As the planet warms, the ice sheet’s protective grip is loosening, potentially igniting a cataclysmic chain reaction that could reshape the continent and accelerate global climate change.