Melting glaciers are likely to make volcanic eruptions more frequent and more explosive, according to a study presented at the 2025 Goldschmidt geochemistry conference in Prague. Researchers led by Pablo Moreno-Yaeger of the University of Wisconsin–Madison examined rock samples from six volcanoes in the Chilean Andes, including the dormant Mocho-Choshuenco, to reconstruct how glacial retreat altered past eruption patterns. Argon-isotope dating and crystal chemistry show that during the height of the last Ice Age, roughly 26,000–18,000 years ago, a glacier up to 1.5 kilometres thick suppressed volcanic activity by keeping pressure on underlying magma. When the ice melted around 13,000 years ago, the sudden loss of weight allowed gases to expand, triggering a surge in violent eruptions. The team says the same pressure-release mechanism threatens regions where ice still blankets volcanic systems. West Antarctica alone harbours more than 100 sub-glacial volcanoes, while similar conditions exist in parts of North America, New Zealand and Russia. A 2020 review identified 245 potentially active volcanoes worldwide that sit beneath or close to glacial ice. Volcanic plumes can temporarily cool the planet by scattering sunlight, but sustained episodes also release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, potentially accelerating long-term warming. The authors call for closer monitoring of glacier-covered volcanoes and for climate models to factor in the feedback loop between ice loss and future eruptions.