The researchers used sophisticated computer modeling technology to reconstruct a series of volcanic eruptions from the past 11,500 years. The work involved estimating – for the first time – the exact ages and amounts of atmospheric sulfur injections for more than 850 historical volcanic eruptions by measuring the sulfur content of ice cores. “A total of 26 eruptions over the past 11,500 years have released more sulfur into the stratosphere than the colossal eruption of Tambora in 1815, suggesting that eruptions of this size occur more than twice as often globally than previously thought,” said Sigl , head of the investigation. work. Sigl also said the research found a link between melting glaciers and increased volcanic activity — a finding that helps scientists predict the potential climate effects of continued global warming. The results were recently published in the journal Earth System Science Data. Toohey was responsible for obtaining estimates of the amount of sulfate in the ice and assessing how stratospheric aerosols from past eruptions have affected the transmission of radiation through the atmosphere. The tools developed by Toohey and his team will allow ice core information to be used in Holocene climate model simulations, as well as provide rapid estimates of the impact of potential future eruptions. “This work greatly improves our ability to estimate the probability of large, climate-relevant eruptions in the future and their radiation, providing a valuable resource for climate risk assessment,” said Toohey. Link to the newspaper:
