![]() ![]() At depths of several miles, the Earth’s rocky crust contacts the red-hot mantle. The gasses are the product of the Earth’s solid outer crust melting deep below the surface. “If we want to understand how climate has been influenced by carbon emissions from volcanoes, then we have to understand how much carbon is actually coming out of volcanoes… Erebus is a really good analogue, and so understanding that, we can use that data, we can extrapolate back into Earth’s history to see how it might have affected it.” ![]() “The bigger question is to understand what are the carbon-dioxide emissions from volcanoes globally,” Fischer said. They want to get as complete a picture as possible of all the emissions emanating from the mountain because they likely played a major role in Earth’s prehistoric climate. Scientists have been studying the fumes pouring out of the open crater at the peak of the mountain for years, Fischer’s is the first major attempt to understand the gasses coming off the sides, or the flank, of the volcano. Their project is supported by the National Science Foundation, which manages the U.S. He and his team traveled to Antarctica to take the closest look yet at the gasses seeping out of the slopes of the volcano. Tobias Fischer, a volcanologist at the University of New Mexico, spent two seasons exploring the frozen face of Antarctica’s Mount Erebus, the world’s southernmost active volcano, to better understand these fumes escaping from the depths of the Earth. Want to explore by land instead of by sea? The Australian Antarctic sightseeing program offers flights to Antarctica on Qantas.The team camped on the side of Mount Erebus, who’s smoking crater can be seen in the background.Īll over the world, plumes of gasses that formed deep under the planet’s surface, pour out of active volcanoes and mix with the atmosphere. Boots, on the other hand, are available to rent. Scheduled to leave in November, 20, this 13-day cruise allows you to observe the scenery of this remote location. In addition to all meals, this once-in-a-lifetime trip also provides a complimentary (and much needed) parka for each passenger. Take advantage of the "warm" weather and longer days in mid-December and January.īook it: Consider taking an Antarctica cruise from $4,999/person. Visit between November and early December to see penguins in their courting and mating season, and wild flowers bloom on the South Georgia Islands. If you want to see whales in their natural habitat, set sail between February and March. When to go and what to do: Though we can't guarantee Mount Erebus will be included in your itinerary, one of the best ways to see Antarctica is on a cruise. As the warm, wet air inside escapes into the cold air, it freezes and creates frozen crystals along the edges, building the towers to up to 60 feet tall. As gas escapes fissures on the sides of the mountain, the ice pack and snow on the surface begins to melt and hollow out. Though its ironic location alone makes us scratch our heads, its ice towers (pictured above) are even more unbelievable. The southern-most active volcano and second-highest summit on Antarctica’s Ross Island (at 12,448 feet), this volcano has been active since 1972. The odd duck of volcanoes, Mount Erebus’s permanent lava lake reaches temperatures of 1,826 degrees Fahrenheit, but is situated in one of the coldest places on Earth. ![]()
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