Beneath Antarctica’s vast icy surface lies a surprising secret: a hidden network of volcanoes. The western ice sheet alone harbors a staggering 138 volcanoes, making it the largest volcanic region on Earth. This discovery emerged from a comprehensive study published in the Geological Society in 2017, which revealed 91 previously unknown volcanoes.

The question of whether these Antarctic volcanoes could erupt presents a complex challenge for geologists. While these volcanoes are relatively young in geological terms, determining their activity status is not straightforward. The study authors noted the difficulty in discerning whether these volcanoes are currently active.

Despite the vast number of volcanoes, only two are classified as active: Deception Island, situated north of the mainland within the South Shetland Islands, and Mount Erebus. Mount Erebus stands as the continent’s highest peak, reaching an impressive summit height of 12,448 feet (3,794 meters), and is recognized as the southernmost active volcano on Earth.
“Erebus, which looms over the McMurdo research base on Scott Island, has been continuously erupting since at least 1972,” Conor Bacon, a postdoctoral research scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University in New York, told Live Science in an email.

Subsequently, Mount Erebus has been observed to release “plumes of gas and steam” and sporadically eject rock “bombs,” phenomena collectively referred to as strombolian eruptions, as reported by NASA Earth Observatory.

“One of its most interesting features is the persistent lava lake that occupies one of [its] summit craters, where molten material is present at the surface,” Bacon said. “These are actually quite rare, as it requires some very specific conditions to be met to ensure the surface never freezes over.”
On the contrary, Deception Island houses the caldera of an active volcano, which last erupted in 1970, as reported by the Deception Island Antarctic Specially Managed Area, an entity tasked with monitoring volcanic activity on the island. Currently, the island is designated as “green,” indicating no anticipated eruptions.
Although Antarctica boasts only two active volcanoes, the continent is dotted with fumaroles, openings in the Earth’s crust that emit gases and vapors. Under favorable conditions, these emissions can form deposits called fumarolic ice towers, reaching heights of up to 10 feet (3 m).
Despite continuous monitoring efforts by scientists using specialized instruments, accurately predicting the timing of future eruptions remains challenging. Therefore, aside from the known active volcanoes and the presence of fumaroles, it remains uncertain whether any other volcanoes across the continent might erupt.
Mount Erebus and Deception Island each have only a limited number of permanent monitoring instruments,” Bacon noted. “These networks mainly comprise seismometers designed to detect seismic activity related to volcanic unrest. Occasionally, researchers may deploy more comprehensive instrument networks for specific research purposes, but this presents significant logistical hurdles compared to the accessibility of many other volcanoes worldwide.”
Another obstacle facing scientists, he pointed out, is ensuring the durability of permanent installations amidst the harsh conditions and extended polar nights. “In addition to logistical challenges, the equipment must be robust enough to withstand the severe environment,” Bacon explained.