Holocene tephras highlight complexity of volcanic signals in Greenland ice cores

S.E. Coulter; J.R. Pilcher; G. Plunkett; M. Baillie; V.A. Hall; Jørgen Peder Steffensen; Bo Møllesøe Vinther; Henrik Brink Clausen; Sigfus Johann Johnsen

doi:10.1029/2012jd017698

Holocene tephras highlight complexity of volcanic signals in Greenland ice cores

S.E. Coulter, J.R. Pilcher, G. Plunkett, M. Baillie, V.A. Hall, Jørgen Peder Steffensen, Bo Møllesøe Vinther, Henrik Brink Clausen, Sigfus Johann Johnsen

Physics of Ice, Climate and Earth

59 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Acidity peaks in Greenland ice cores have been used as critical reference horizons for synchronizing ice core records, aiding the construction of a single Greenland Ice Core Chronology (GICC05) for the Holocene. Guided by GICC05, we examined sub-sections of three Greenland cores in the search for tephra from specific eruptions that might facilitate the linkage of ice core records, the dating of prehistoric tephras and the understanding of the eruptions. Here we report the identification of 14 horizons with tephra particles, including 11 that have not previously been reported from the North Atlantic region and that have the potential to be valuable isochrons. The positions of tephras whose major element data are consistent with ash from the Katmai AD 1912 and raefajkull AD 1362 eruptions confirm the annually resolved ice core chronology for the last 700years. We provide a more refined date for the so-called "AD860B" tephra, a widespread isochron found across NW Europe, and present new evidence relating to the 17th century BC Thera/Aniakchak debate that shows N. American eruptions likely contributed to the acid signals at this time. Our Results emphasize the variable spatial and temporal distributions of volcanic products in Greenland ice that call for a more cautious approach in the attribution of acid signals to specific eruptive events.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface
Volume	117
Pages (from-to)	D21303
ISSN	2169-9003
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2012jd017698
Publication status	Published - 15 Nov 2012

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title = "Holocene tephras highlight complexity of volcanic signals in Greenland ice cores",

abstract = "Acidity peaks in Greenland ice cores have been used as critical reference horizons for synchronizing ice core records, aiding the construction of a single Greenland Ice Core Chronology (GICC05) for the Holocene. Guided by GICC05, we examined sub-sections of three Greenland cores in the search for tephra from specific eruptions that might facilitate the linkage of ice core records, the dating of prehistoric tephras and the understanding of the eruptions. Here we report the identification of 14 horizons with tephra particles, including 11 that have not previously been reported from the North Atlantic region and that have the potential to be valuable isochrons. The positions of tephras whose major element data are consistent with ash from the Katmai AD 1912 and raefajkull AD 1362 eruptions confirm the annually resolved ice core chronology for the last 700years. We provide a more refined date for the so-called {"}AD860B{"} tephra, a widespread isochron found across NW Europe, and present new evidence relating to the 17th century BC Thera/Aniakchak debate that shows N. American eruptions likely contributed to the acid signals at this time. Our Results emphasize the variable spatial and temporal distributions of volcanic products in Greenland ice that call for a more cautious approach in the attribution of acid signals to specific eruptive events.",

author = "S.E. Coulter and J.R. Pilcher and G. Plunkett and M. Baillie and V.A. Hall and Steffensen, {J{\o}rgen Peder} and Vinther, {Bo M{\o}lles{\o}e} and Clausen, {Henrik Brink} and Johnsen, {Sigfus Johann}",

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T1 - Holocene tephras highlight complexity of volcanic signals in Greenland ice cores

AU - Coulter, S.E.

AU - Pilcher, J.R.

AU - Plunkett, G.

AU - Baillie, M.

AU - Hall, V.A.

AU - Steffensen, Jørgen Peder

AU - Vinther, Bo Møllesøe

AU - Clausen, Henrik Brink

AU - Johnsen, Sigfus Johann

PY - 2012/11/15

Y1 - 2012/11/15

N2 - Acidity peaks in Greenland ice cores have been used as critical reference horizons for synchronizing ice core records, aiding the construction of a single Greenland Ice Core Chronology (GICC05) for the Holocene. Guided by GICC05, we examined sub-sections of three Greenland cores in the search for tephra from specific eruptions that might facilitate the linkage of ice core records, the dating of prehistoric tephras and the understanding of the eruptions. Here we report the identification of 14 horizons with tephra particles, including 11 that have not previously been reported from the North Atlantic region and that have the potential to be valuable isochrons. The positions of tephras whose major element data are consistent with ash from the Katmai AD 1912 and raefajkull AD 1362 eruptions confirm the annually resolved ice core chronology for the last 700years. We provide a more refined date for the so-called "AD860B" tephra, a widespread isochron found across NW Europe, and present new evidence relating to the 17th century BC Thera/Aniakchak debate that shows N. American eruptions likely contributed to the acid signals at this time. Our Results emphasize the variable spatial and temporal distributions of volcanic products in Greenland ice that call for a more cautious approach in the attribution of acid signals to specific eruptive events.

AB - Acidity peaks in Greenland ice cores have been used as critical reference horizons for synchronizing ice core records, aiding the construction of a single Greenland Ice Core Chronology (GICC05) for the Holocene. Guided by GICC05, we examined sub-sections of three Greenland cores in the search for tephra from specific eruptions that might facilitate the linkage of ice core records, the dating of prehistoric tephras and the understanding of the eruptions. Here we report the identification of 14 horizons with tephra particles, including 11 that have not previously been reported from the North Atlantic region and that have the potential to be valuable isochrons. The positions of tephras whose major element data are consistent with ash from the Katmai AD 1912 and raefajkull AD 1362 eruptions confirm the annually resolved ice core chronology for the last 700years. We provide a more refined date for the so-called "AD860B" tephra, a widespread isochron found across NW Europe, and present new evidence relating to the 17th century BC Thera/Aniakchak debate that shows N. American eruptions likely contributed to the acid signals at this time. Our Results emphasize the variable spatial and temporal distributions of volcanic products in Greenland ice that call for a more cautious approach in the attribution of acid signals to specific eruptive events.

U2 - 10.1029/2012jd017698

DO - 10.1029/2012jd017698

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0148-0227

VL - 117

SP - D21303

JO - Journal of Geophysical Research

JF - Journal of Geophysical Research

ER -

Holocene tephras highlight complexity of volcanic signals in Greenland ice cores

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