Variable Response in Alpine Tree-Ring Stable Isotopes Following Volcanic Eruptions in the Tropics and Iceland
The importance of the stable isotopes in tree rings for the study of the climate variations caused by volcanic eruptions is still unclear. We studied δ<sup>18</sup>O, δD, δ<sup>13</sup>C stable isotopes of larch and cembran pine cellulose around four major eruptions with annu...
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Geosciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/10/371 |
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| author | Tito Arosio Stéphane Affolter Kurt Nicolussi Michael Sigl Malin Michelle Ziehmer-Wenz Christian Schlüchter Emmanuel Schaad Rafael Stähli Markus Christian Leuenberger |
| author_facet | Tito Arosio Stéphane Affolter Kurt Nicolussi Michael Sigl Malin Michelle Ziehmer-Wenz Christian Schlüchter Emmanuel Schaad Rafael Stähli Markus Christian Leuenberger |
| author_sort | Tito Arosio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The importance of the stable isotopes in tree rings for the study of the climate variations caused by volcanic eruptions is still unclear. We studied δ<sup>18</sup>O, δD, δ<sup>13</sup>C stable isotopes of larch and cembran pine cellulose around four major eruptions with annual resolution, along with a superposed epoch analysis of 34 eruptions with 5-year resolution. Initial analysis of the tropical Tambora (1815 CE) and Samalas (1257 CE) eruptions showed a post-eruption decrease in δ<sup>18</sup>O values attributed to post-volcanic cooling and increased summer precipitation in Southern Europe, as documented by observations and climate simulations. The post-volcanic cooling was captured by the δD of speleothem fluid inclusion. The δ<sup>18</sup>O decrease was also observed in the analysis of 34 major tropical eruptions over the last 2000 years. In contrast, the eruptions of c. 750, 756, and 764 CE attributed to Icelandic volcanoes left no significant responses in the cellulose isotopes. Further analysis of all major Icelandic eruptions in the last 2000 years showed no consistent isotopic fingerprints, with the exception of lower post-volcanic δ<sup>13</sup>C values in larch. In summary, the δ<sup>18</sup>O values of cellulose can provide relevant information on climatic and hydroclimatic variations following major tropical volcanic eruptions, even when using the 5-year resolution wood samples of the Alpine Tree-Ring Isotope Record database. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:10:16Z |
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| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:10:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-00ec2e07eefd4187bf0d3249e0c16be02023-11-24T00:17:41ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632022-10-01121037110.3390/geosciences12100371Variable Response in Alpine Tree-Ring Stable Isotopes Following Volcanic Eruptions in the Tropics and IcelandTito Arosio0Stéphane Affolter1Kurt Nicolussi2Michael Sigl3Malin Michelle Ziehmer-Wenz4Christian Schlüchter5Emmanuel Schaad6Rafael Stähli7Markus Christian Leuenberger8Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandQuaternary Geology, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, SwitzerlandInstitute of Geography, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaClimate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandClimate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandOeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandClimate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandClimate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandClimate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandThe importance of the stable isotopes in tree rings for the study of the climate variations caused by volcanic eruptions is still unclear. We studied δ<sup>18</sup>O, δD, δ<sup>13</sup>C stable isotopes of larch and cembran pine cellulose around four major eruptions with annual resolution, along with a superposed epoch analysis of 34 eruptions with 5-year resolution. Initial analysis of the tropical Tambora (1815 CE) and Samalas (1257 CE) eruptions showed a post-eruption decrease in δ<sup>18</sup>O values attributed to post-volcanic cooling and increased summer precipitation in Southern Europe, as documented by observations and climate simulations. The post-volcanic cooling was captured by the δD of speleothem fluid inclusion. The δ<sup>18</sup>O decrease was also observed in the analysis of 34 major tropical eruptions over the last 2000 years. In contrast, the eruptions of c. 750, 756, and 764 CE attributed to Icelandic volcanoes left no significant responses in the cellulose isotopes. Further analysis of all major Icelandic eruptions in the last 2000 years showed no consistent isotopic fingerprints, with the exception of lower post-volcanic δ<sup>13</sup>C values in larch. In summary, the δ<sup>18</sup>O values of cellulose can provide relevant information on climatic and hydroclimatic variations following major tropical volcanic eruptions, even when using the 5-year resolution wood samples of the Alpine Tree-Ring Isotope Record database.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/10/371volcanic eruptiontree ringsstable isotopefluid inclusionAlpsclimate |
| spellingShingle | Tito Arosio Stéphane Affolter Kurt Nicolussi Michael Sigl Malin Michelle Ziehmer-Wenz Christian Schlüchter Emmanuel Schaad Rafael Stähli Markus Christian Leuenberger Variable Response in Alpine Tree-Ring Stable Isotopes Following Volcanic Eruptions in the Tropics and Iceland Geosciences volcanic eruption tree rings stable isotope fluid inclusion Alps climate |
| title | Variable Response in Alpine Tree-Ring Stable Isotopes Following Volcanic Eruptions in the Tropics and Iceland |
| title_full | Variable Response in Alpine Tree-Ring Stable Isotopes Following Volcanic Eruptions in the Tropics and Iceland |
| title_fullStr | Variable Response in Alpine Tree-Ring Stable Isotopes Following Volcanic Eruptions in the Tropics and Iceland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Variable Response in Alpine Tree-Ring Stable Isotopes Following Volcanic Eruptions in the Tropics and Iceland |
| title_short | Variable Response in Alpine Tree-Ring Stable Isotopes Following Volcanic Eruptions in the Tropics and Iceland |
| title_sort | variable response in alpine tree ring stable isotopes following volcanic eruptions in the tropics and iceland |
| topic | volcanic eruption tree rings stable isotope fluid inclusion Alps climate |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/10/371 |
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