The Hekla 3 volcanic eruption recorded in a Scottish speleothem?

• Published in: The Holocene
• Main Authors: Baker, Andy, Smart, Peter L., Barnes, W.L., Edwards, R. Lawrence, Farrant, Andy
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 1995
• Subjects: Hekla
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/095968369500500309; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/095968369500500309

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.