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Volcanic dust influence on glacier mass balance at high latitudes

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An Erratum to this article was published on 16 March 1978

Abstract

EXPLOSIVE eruptions, which inject large quantities of volcanic dust into the earth's upper atmosphere, are believed to be important factors in climatic change. Theoretical considerations suggest that the greatest climatic effect of a stratospheric dust veil would be at high latitudes during summer months, when solar radiation passes through the greatest depth of atmosphere and the surface is illuminated continously1. Furthermore, the residence time of volcanic dust is greatest at high latitudes, where it may remain in the upper atmosphere for a decade or more, depending on particle size and initial injection height2. Here we present evidence that the eruption of Mount Agung (8 °S, 115 °E) in March 1963, was responsible for a marked change in the climate of the North American High Arctic and that this change has had a significant impact on glacier mass balance in the region.

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  16. Research supported by USNSF Climate Dynamics Program (Grant OCD75–00975).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Geography, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 01003

    RAYMOND S. BRADLEY

  2. Department of Geography, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, T6G 2H4

    JOHN ENGLAND

Authors
  1. RAYMOND S. BRADLEY
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  2. JOHN ENGLAND
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BRADLEY, R., ENGLAND, J. Volcanic dust influence on glacier mass balance at high latitudes. Nature 271, 736–738 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/271736a0

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