Antarctic volcanoes: A remote but significant hazard

Abstract

Ash emitted during explosive volcanic eruptions may disperse over vast areas of the globe posing a threat to human health and infrastructures and causing enormous disruption to air traffic.In Antarctica, no attention has been paid to the potential socio-economic and environmental consequences of an ash-forming eruption occurring at high southern latitudes. We show here how ash from Antarctic volcanoes may pose a threat higher than previously believed, volcanic ash could potentially encircle the globe, leading to significant consequences to global aviation safety.