Abstract
There have been many investigations of the impact of volcanic eruptions on the climate, but there is emerging evidence that the converse might also be true; that climate may also influence volcanic activity (e.g. Watt et al., 2013). Removal of glacial ice, creating crustal pressure release on underlying magmas is the most obvious mechanism. However, sea level changes of over 100m associated with glacial- interglacial cycles also impose and remove mass on the crust above magma chambers, particularly at island volcanoes (McGuire et al., 1997). Until now, this hypothesis has never been rigorously tested due to a lack of complete and well dated volcanic stratigraphies and well dated local sea level records.
The Santorini volcano has been studied extensively over the past 150 years and has been the subject of many seminal papers in volcanology (eg. Fouque, 1879; Sullivan 1990; Druitt et al., 2012; Parks et al., 2012; Martin et al., 2012). It’s well preserved stratigraphy (Druitt et al., 1999; Satow et al., 2015) combined with a recently published and precisely dated local sea level record (Grant et al., 2012), provides a unique opportunity to test the hitherto undetermined effect of sea level change on eruption frequency.
Do island volcanoes form an important feedback in the climate system where eruptions force the climate while climate changes forces eruptions?
About the Speaker
Dr Satow is a geologist studying natural environments throughout the past 2.5 millions years or so. By using volcanic ash and oceans sediment records, his research focusses on linking together outstanding records of climate and oceanic changes.
About the Series
The Changing Planet seminar series is run by students and staff on the Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet (SSCP) Doctoral Training Program. The aim is to complement the diversity of environmental research here at Imperial College London and promote links to the broader community in UK and beyond. It offers the chance to hear the latest in understanding, adapting to and mitigating environmental problems.