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Global ozone depletion and increase of UV radiation caused by pre-industrial tropical volcanic eruptions.
- Source :
-
Scientific reports [Sci Rep] 2019 Jul 01; Vol. 9 (1), pp. 9435. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Jul 01. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Large explosive tropical volcanic eruptions inject high amounts of gases into the stratosphere, where they disperse globally through the large-scale meridional circulation. There is now increasing observational evidence that volcanic halogens can reach the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. Here, we present the first study that combines measurement-based data of sulfur, chlorine and bromine releases from tropical volcanic eruptions with complex coupled chemistry climate model simulations taking radiative-dynamical-chemical feedbacks into account. Halogen model input parameters represent a size-time-region-wide average for the Central American eruptions over the last 200 ka ensuring a comprehensive perspective. The simulations reveal global, long-lasting impact on the ozone layer affecting atmospheric composition and circulation for a decade. Column ozone drops below 220 DU (ozone hole conditions) in the tropics, Arctic and Antarctica, increasing biologically active UV by 80 to 400%. Our model results could potentially be validated using high-resolution proxies from ice cores and pollen records.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2045-2322
- Volume :
- 9
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Scientific reports
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 31263134
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-45630-0