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Volcanology

Mobile magma under Antarctic ice

Volcanoes have been active under the West Antarctic Ice Sheet for millions of years, and there is evidence for recent activity. Now swarms of tiny earthquakes detected in 2010 and 2011 hint at current magma movement in the crust beneath the ice.

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Figure 1: Rocks outcropping above glaciers in Marie Byrd Land.

© NG IMAGES / ALAMY

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Correspondence to John C. Behrendt.

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Behrendt, J. Mobile magma under Antarctic ice. Nature Geosci 6, 990–991 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2011

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