Scientists have made an incredible discovery about one of the biggest fears of the 21st century: global warming. This is an issue that we hear everywhere, whether it’s on the news or social media. It has also inspired movements and known figures like Greta Thunberg. However, scientists have recently discovered something that could change what we thought we knew about its causes. So, let’s find out what the discovery was.
New origin of global warming
For many years, we have thought global warming is a consequence of climate change, which is caused by human activities.Thousands of organizations have worked to reduce effects such as: rising temperature, carbon emissions, and increasing of the sea level. However, scientists have now found something unexpected. Of course, they still recognize the danger of global warming, but they believe the true source could be under the Earth’s surface.
According to this new investigation, the melting of glaciers could be activating a series of processes inside Earth that end up causing volcanic eruptions and sea level rising. This means that global warming might not only come from what humans do above the surface, but also from what happens inside the planet itself.
Scientists connected two processes in America
This discovery was presented by geophysicists on July 8 during the Goldschmidt Conference in Prague, where scientists reported that hundreds of volcanoes could be activated in America since many areas of the continent are under large areas of glaciers.
Everything started with small tremors beneath the ground, but scientists soon noticed stronger signals.
As the Earth’s temperature continues to rise, glaciers around the world begin to melt. When the ice disappears, the surface of the Earth becomes lighter, which allows pressure to build up underneath.This extra pressure can cause tectonic plates to move, and eventually, volcanoes may erupt with greater force.
Scientists say that the United States is one of the most complex and tense regions on the planet in terms of underground movement, which makes it a key area to watch.
The Yellowstone caldera
To better understand this phenomenon, scientists studied the Yellowstone caldera. This is a huge supervolcano that spreads across Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. This area has lava domes, crater lakes, and ancient lava flows and Yellowstone has remained quiet and dormant for thousands of years.
But, the new study has detected a magma expansion under its tectonic plates, which is seen as tiny changes in the ground, moving up and down slightly like waves. Scientists do not yet know how long this process will continue, but they are sure that if it leads to an eruption, the effects could be very serious for the environment and the planet.
Warning for the U.S.
After studying different countries, scientists estimate the U.S. could be the most affected by global warming. We are not talking just about heat, but also about ash in the sky, and a steady rise in temperatures.
According to them, a great eruption could be like the ‘’final boss’’ of volcanoes, such a powerful phenomenon that would change global climate. For many years, the planet and humanity have been in a kind of climate battle and this phenomenon could be a signal that the Earth is responding.
And the Earth?
Even though scientists have tried to find solutions to stop climate change for a long time, there aren’t real measures yet that can stop these natural processes. Many scientists think these phenomena could be interpreted as a type of awakening of the planet.
Basically, what scientists say is that maybe we have pushed the planet too far and now it’s starting to react to all human activities.