Antarctica Hides 207 Volcanoes Under Ice, New Digital Map Created
February 6, 2026
Antarctica is not as calm as it seems. Beneath its thick ice sheet, scientists have found 207 hidden volcanoes. A China-led international team created the world's first complete digital map of these subglacial volcanoes. Called ANT-SGV-25, the catalogue is a big step forward in polar research. The Polar Research Institute of China worked with partners like the University of Exeter to develop this tool. Published on February 3 in Earth-Science Reviews, the archive shows Antarctica is one of Earth’s major volcanic regions. Many volcanoes are buried under kilometers of ice, so they were often overlooked. Some volcanoes may be dormant, while others might still be active. When these volcanoes erupt, they don’t blast ash into the air. Instead, they melt ice from below, which can affect ice stability. Knowing where these volcanoes lie helps scientists identify areas at higher risk of melting. The new catalogue is not just a map but also a modeling tool. It lets researchers study how geothermal heat affects ice flow in different places. This insight is crucial as Antarctica’s climate warms. A scientist involved called ANT-SGV-25 a “public data product,” meaning anyone worldwide can use it. The discovery of these volcanoes changes how we view Antarctica. More volcanoes may still be uncovered, and future studies will better estimate their activity and geothermal effects.
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Tags:
Antarctica
Volcanoes
Subglacial
Ice Sheet
Geothermal Heat
Climate change
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