Variable Response in Alpine Tree-Ring Stable Isotopes Following Volcanic Eruptions in the Tropics and Iceland

• Published in: Geosciences
• Main Authors: Tito Arosio, Stéphane Affolter, Kurt Nicolussi, Michael Sigl, Malin Michelle Ziehmer-Wenz, Christian Schlüchter, Emmanuel Schaad, Rafael Stähli, Markus Christian Leuenberger
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2022
• Subjects: volcanic eruption; tree rings; stable isotope; fluid inclusion; Alps; climate; Geology; QE1-996.5; Lower Post; Iceland
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12100371; https://doaj.org/article/00ec2e07eefd4187bf0d3249e0c16be0

The importance of the stable isotopes in tree rings for the study of the climate variations caused by volcanic eruptions is still unclear. We studied δ 18 O, δD, δ 13 C stable isotopes of larch and cembran pine cellulose around four major eruptions with annual resolution, along with a superposed epoch analysis of 34 eruptions with 5-year resolution. Initial analysis of the tropical Tambora (1815 CE) and Samalas (1257 CE) eruptions showed a post-eruption decrease in δ 18 O values attributed to post-volcanic cooling and increased summer precipitation in Southern Europe, as documented by observations and climate simulations. The post-volcanic cooling was captured by the δD of speleothem fluid inclusion. The δ 18 O decrease was also observed in the analysis of 34 major tropical eruptions over the last 2000 years. In contrast, the eruptions of c. 750, 756, and 764 CE attributed to Icelandic volcanoes left no significant responses in the cellulose isotopes. Further analysis of all major Icelandic eruptions in the last 2000 years showed no consistent isotopic fingerprints, with the exception of lower post-volcanic δ 13 C values in larch. In summary, the δ 18 O values of cellulose can provide relevant information on climatic and hydroclimatic variations following major tropical volcanic eruptions, even when using the 5-year resolution wood samples of the Alpine Tree-Ring Isotope Record database.