Swindles, G orcid.org/0000-0001-8039-1790, Watson, E, Savov, IP orcid.org/0000-0003-4218-4365 et al. (7 more authors) (2018) Climatic control on Icelandic volcanic activity during the mid-Holocene. Geology, 46 (1). pp. 47-50. ISSN 0091-7613
Abstract
Human-induced climate change is causing rapid melting of ice in many volcanically active regions. Over glacial-interglacial time scales changes in surface loading exerted by large variations in glacier size affect the rates of volcanic activity. Numerical models suggest that smaller changes in ice volume over shorter time scales may also influence rates of mantle melt generation. However, this effect has not been verified in the geological record. Furthermore, the time lag between climatic forcing and a resultant change in the frequency of volcanic eruptions is unknown. We present empirical evidence that the frequency of volcanic eruptions in Iceland was affected by glacial extent, modulated by climate, on multicentennial time scales during the Holocene. We examine the frequency of volcanic ash deposition over northern Europe and compare this with Icelandic eruptions. We identify a period of markedly reduced volcanic activity centered on 5.5–4.5 ka that was preceded by a major change in atmospheric circulation patterns, expressed in the North Atlantic as a deepening of the Icelandic Low, favoring glacial advance on Iceland. We calculate an apparent time lag of ∼600 yr between the climate event and change in eruption frequency. Given the time lag identified here, increase in volcanic eruptions due to ongoing deglaciation since the end of the Little Ice Age may not become apparent for hundreds of years.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 The Authors. This paper is published under the terms of the CC-BY license. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Inst of Geophysics and Tectonics (IGT) (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Geography (Leeds) > River Basin Processes & Management (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Geography (Leeds) > Ecology & Global Change (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 27 Oct 2017 12:35 |
Last Modified: | 12 Oct 2020 15:28 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Geological Society of America |
Identification Number: | 10.1130/G39633.1 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:123090 |
Commentary/Response Threads
- Swindles, G, Watson, E, Savov, IP, Lawson, I, Schmidt, A, Hooper, A, Cooper, C, Connor, C, Gloor, E and Carrivick, J Climatic control on Icelandic volcanic activity during the mid-Holocene. (deposited 27 Oct 2017 12:35) [Currently Displayed]