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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Atmospheres

 

Keywords

  • ice cores
  • volcanism
  • sulfate

Index Terms

  • Cryosphere: Ice cores
  • Geochronology: Tephrochronology
  • Volcanology: Atmospheric effects
  • Volcanology: Explosive volcanism
Abstract
Cited By (2)
 

Abstract

Ice core paleovolcanic records from the St. Elias Mountains, Yukon, Canada

Kaplan Yalcin

Climate Change Research Center, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA

Cameron P. Wake

Climate Change Research Center, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA

Karl J. Kreutz

Climate Change Institute and Department of Earth Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA

Mark S. Germani

MicroMaterials Research, Inc., Burr Ridge, Illinois, USA

Sallie I. Whitlow

Climate Change Research Center, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA

We previously reported a record of regionally significant volcanic eruptions in the North Pacific using an ice core from Eclipse Icefield (St. Elias Mountains, Yukon, Canada). The acquisition of two new ice cores from Eclipse Icefield, along with the previously available Eclipse Icefield and Mount Logan Northwest Col ice cores, allows us to extend our record of North Pacific volcanism to 550 years before present using a suite of four ice cores spanning an elevation range of 3–5 km. Comparison of volcanic sulfate flux records demonstrates that the results are highly reproducible, especially for the largest eruptions such as Katmai (A.D. 1912). Correlation of volcanic sulfate signals with historically documented eruptions indicates that at least one-third of the eruptions recorded in St. Elias ice cores are from Alaskan and Kamchatkan volcanoes. Although there are several moderately large (volcanic explosivity index (VEI) ≥ 4) eruptions recorded in only one core from Eclipse Icefield, the use of multiple cores provides signals in at least one core from all known VEI ≥ 4 eruptions in Alaska and Kamchatka since A.D. 1829. Tephrochronological evidence from the Eclipse ice cores documents eruptions in Alaska (Westdahl, Redoubt, Trident, and Katmai), Kamchatka (Avachinsky, Kliuchevoskoi, and Ksudach), and Iceland (Hekla). Several unidentified tephra-bearing horizons, with available geochemical evidence suggesting Alaskan and Kamchatkan sources, were also found. We present a reconstruction of annual volcanic sulfate loading for the North Pacific troposphere based on our ice core data, and we provide a detailed assessment of the atmospheric and climatic effects of the Katmai eruption.

Received 10 May 2006; accepted 20 November 2006; published 20 April 2007.

Citation: Yalcin, K., C. P. Wake, K. J. Kreutz, M. S. Germani, and S. I. Whitlow (2007), Ice core paleovolcanic records from the St. Elias Mountains, Yukon, Canada, J. Geophys. Res., 112, D08102, doi:10.1029/2006JD007497.

Cited By

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