The Hekla 3 volcanic eruption recorded in a Scottish speleothem?
Recent research has demonstrated the presence of annual luminescent growth banding in a stalagmite from Sutherland, N.W. Scotland (Baker, Smart, Edwards and Richards, 1993). The banding record of this sample contains a short duration increase in annual band width, indicating a doubling of growth rat...
Published in: | The Holocene |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
SAGE Publications
1995
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/095968369500500309 http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/095968369500500309 |
Summary: | Recent research has demonstrated the presence of annual luminescent growth banding in a stalagmite from Sutherland, N.W. Scotland (Baker, Smart, Edwards and Richards, 1993). The banding record of this sample contains a short duration increase in annual band width, indicating a doubling of growth rate for a period of four years. Predicted growth rates derived from calcite precipitation kinetics are compared with observed growth-rate variability to demonstrate that such a doubling of growth rate would not be expected within the probable range of normal climate variation. The growth rate peak is dated to 1135 ± 130 BC by thermal ionization mass spectrometric 238 U- 234 U- 230 Th dating, not inconsistent with the timing of the Hekla 3 volcanic eruption. This event may explain the observed variation in growth rate, and provide a new source of evidence for interpretation of the effects of large explosive eruptions. |
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