Releasing the pressure on the restless Earth

As ice caps and glaciers melt, could reduced pressure on Earth's crust lead to increased volcanic activity?

Our planet is always on the move, but sometimes it is more restless than usual. As the last ice age came to an end, around 10,000 years ago, there was a surge in volcanic activity as ice caps melted, decreasing pressure on the Earth's crust.

Since then our planet has reached a steady state, with around 50 volcanoes erupting each year and around 150 earthquakes greater than magnitude six. But geo-hazards expert Bill McGuire is concerned that human-induced climate change may bring a resurgence in activity in the coming centuries. "In areas of major ice loss, such as Alaska, Iceland, the Andes and Himalayas we may see a rise in earthquakes, volcanism and landslides" says McGuire, who describes this scenario in Waking the Giant. "It only takes the pressure of a handshake to trigger a quake or volcanic blast in a primed system."