Global tree-ring response and inferred climate variation following the mid-thirteenth century Samalas eruption ...

• Main Authors: Büntgen, U, Smith, SH, Wagner, S, Krusic, P, Esper, J, Piermattei, A, Crivellaro, A, Reinig, F, Tegel, W, Kirdyanov, A, Trnka, M, Oppenheimer, C
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2022
• Subjects: Climate models; Climate reconstructions; Dendrochronology; Growth response; Hydroclimate; Paleoclimate; Temperature change; Tree rings; Volcanic eruptions; Canada; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17863/cam.85867; https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/338454

AbstractThe largest explosive volcanic eruption of the Common Era in terms of estimated sulphur yield to the stratosphere was identified in glaciochemical records 40 years ago, and dates to the mid-thirteenth century. Despite eventual attribution to the Samalas (Rinjani) volcano in Indonesia, the eruption date remains uncertain, and the climate response only partially understood. Seeking a more global perspective on summer surface temperature and hydroclimate change following the eruption, we present an analysis of 249 tree-ring chronologies spanning the thirteenth century and representing all continents except Antarctica. Of the 170 predominantly temperature sensitive high-frequency chronologies, the earliest hints of boreal summer cooling are the growth depressions found at sites in the western US and Canada in 1257 CE. If this response is a result of Samalas, it would be consistent with an eruption window of circa May–July 1257 CE. More widespread summer cooling across the mid-latitudes of North America ...