Is there a climatic control on Icelandic volcanism?

Quaternary Science Advances

Henry Patton¹  Ivan P. Savov²  Jonathan L. Carrivick³  Ruza F. Ivanovic³  Alun Hubbard⁴  Graeme T. Swindles⁴  Claire L. Cooper⁵ 

[1] Corresponding author. School of Geography and water@Leeds, University of Leeds, UK.;School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, UK;Center for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate, Arctic University of Norway, Norway;School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, UK;School of Geography and Water@Leeds, University of Leeds, UK;

关键词: Unloading effect;    Isostasy;    Deglaciation;    Crustal loading;    Volcanism;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The evidence for periods of increased volcanic activity following deglaciation, such as following ice sheet retreat after the Last Glacial Maximum, has been examined in several formerly glaciated areas, including Iceland, Alaska, and the Andean Southern Volcanic Zone. Here we present new evidence supporting the theory that during episodes of cooling in the Holocene, Icelandic volcanic activity decreased. By examining proximal and distal tephra records from Iceland spanning the last 12,500 years, we link two observed tephra minima to documented periods of climatic cooling and glacial advance, at 8.3 to 8 and 5.2 to 4.9 cal kyr BP. We simulate these periods in atmosphere-ocean and ice sheet models to assess the potential validity of the postglacial ‘unloading effect’ on Icelandic volcanic systems. We conclude that an increase in glacial cover may have decreased shallow magma ascent rates, thus limiting eruption potential and producing apparent quiescent periods in proximal and distal tephra records. However, several major uncertainties remain regarding the theory, including geographical and temporal preservation biases and the importance of any unloading effects against other factors, and these will require more prolonged investigation in future research.

【 授权许可】

Unknown