Scientists have noticed that recently volcanoes around the world have intensified. Over the past 10 days, about 40 volcanoes have shown increased activity. Increased seismic activity was also noticed.
Photo: pixabay.com/CC0 Public Domain
Of all the erupting volcanoes, 34 are found along the Pacific Volcanic Ring of Fire. It is the region around the Pacific Ocean that contains most of the active volcanoes and is home to many earthquakes. A total of 328 volcanoes are located within the ring.
Map of active volcanoes on May 31, 2016
Photo: NASA
In the 20th century, the average number of volcanic eruptions was 35 per year. Over the past week, the same number of eruptions was recorded. This trend cannot but worry scientists.
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Is the Big Cross to blame?
Astrologers associate the increased activity of volcanoes with the position of the stars, which line up in the Grand Cross from June 5 to 10. The Grand Cross will consist of Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter, Venus and the Sun.
According to astrologers, the Grand Cross is a harbinger of natural and other cataclysms. It can cause seismic resonance, leading to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis. It was during the period of activity of this configuration of the planets that the eruption of Mount Etna occurred on October 26, 2013, as well as strong earthquakes in several regions neighboring Italy.
Rising volcanism and melting glaciers
Meanwhile, experts from the University of Cambridge believe that volcanic activity is caused by erosion of rocks and melting of glaciers. Researchers from Switzerland came to a similar conclusion. According to scientists, an increase in average annual temperatures leads to the melting of glaciers, which is the reason for the increase in volcanism.
Scientists from the University of Geneva and the Swiss Higher Technical School of Zurich have created a computer model of geological processes on the planet. She showed that the melting of glaciers erodes up to 10 centimeters of rocks annually. This reduces the pressure on volcanoes and increases the risk of eruptions.
Scientists have noted in the past that glacier melting and volcanic activity are linked. “But we found that erosion also plays a key role in this cycle,” said one of the study's authors, Professor Pietro Sternai.
The researchers note that there is a kind of circulation. Initially, global warming causes glaciers to melt and eruptions. The eruptions, in turn, lead to the release of carbon dioxide, which further exacerbates global warming.
According to researchers, it was this process that led to the glacial and interglacial eras. Each of these periods lasted about 100 thousand years. Moreover, during the interglacial epochs, volcanic activity was much higher. Now we live precisely in the interglacial era.
Scientists note that the ice age of 100 thousand years consists of two periods - the formation and melting of ice. Ice forms for 80 thousand years, and melts for only 20 thousand years. This is facilitated by the activation of volcanic emissions, which leads to constant climatic changes.