Sulphur-rich volcanic eruptions and stratospheric aerosols

Sulphur-rich volcanic eruptions and stratospheric aerosols

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ABSTRACT During the past decade it has become clear that the long-lived stratospheric clouds produced by volcanic eruptions are composed largely of sulphuric acid aerosols1,2. The amount of sulphur-rich volatiles (for example, SO2, H2S) injected into the stratosphere by an explosive eruption is, therefore, a critical determinant of its atmospheric impact3,4. The small-volume eruptions of Mt Agung in 1963 and El Chichón in 1982 both generated substantial stratospheric aerosol clouds, despite the fact that they erupted ≲0.5 km3 of magma. Comparison of data from direct measurements of stratospheric optical depth, Greenland ice-core acidity, and volcanological studies shows that such relatively small, but sulphur-rich, eruptions can have atmospheric effects equal to or even greater than much larger sulphur-poor eruptions. These small eruptions are probably the most frequent cause of increased stratospheric aerosols. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your institution Subscribe to this journal Receive 51 print issues and online access $199.00 per year only $3.90 per issue Learn more Buy this article * Purchase on SpringerLink * Instant access to full article PDF Buy now Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout ADDITIONAL ACCESS OPTIONS: * Log in * Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS DECADAL-TO-CENTENNIAL INCREASES OF VOLCANIC AEROSOLS FROM ICELAND CHALLENGE THE CONCEPT OF A MEDIEVAL QUIET PERIOD Article Open access 10 April 2024 PERSISTING VOLCANIC ASH PARTICLES IMPACT STRATOSPHERIC SO2 LIFETIME AND AEROSOL OPTICAL PROPERTIES Article Open access 10 September 2020 VOLCANIC FORCING OF HIGH-LATITUDE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE ERUPTIONS Article Open access 08 January 2024 REFERENCES * Castleman, A. W. Jr., Munkelwitz, H. R. & Manowitz, B. _Tellus_ 26, 222–234 (1974). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Pollack, J. B. _et al._ _J. geophys. Res._ 81, 1071–1083 (1976). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Rampino, M. R. & Self, S. _Quat. Res._ 18, 127–143 (1982). Article  Google Scholar  * Sigurdsson, H. _EOS_ 63, 601–602 (1982). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Pollack, J. B., Toon, O. B., Danielsen, E. F., Hofmann, D. J. & Rosen, J. M. _Geophys. Res. Lett._ 10, 989–992 (1983). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Rampino, M. R. & Self, S. _Scient. Am._ 205, 48–57 (1984). Article  Google Scholar  * Lamb, H. H. _Phil. Trans. R. Soc._ A266, 425–533 (1970). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Hansen, J. E., Wang, W.-C. & Lacis, A. A. _Science_ 199, 1065–1068 (1978). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Newhall, C. G. & Self, S. _J. geophys. Res._ 87, 1231–1238 (1982). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Simkin, T., Siebert, L., McClelland, L., Bridge, D., Newhall, C. & Latter, J. H. _Volcanoes of the World_ (Hutchinson Ross, Stroudsburg, 1981). Google Scholar  * Self, S. & Rampino, M. R. Preprint, Univ. Texas (1984). * Wilson, L., Sparks, R. S. J., Huang, T. C. & Watkins, N. D. _J. geophys. Res._ 83, 1829–1836 (1978). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Zen, M. T. & Hadikusumo, D. _Bull. volcan._ 27, 269–299 (1965). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Mossop, S. C. _Nature_ 203, 824–827 (1964). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Volz, F. E. _J. geophys. Res._ 75, 5185–5193 (1970). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Mendonca, B. G., Hanson, K. J. & Deluisi, J. J. _Science_ 202, 512–515 (1978). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Stothers, R. B. _Science_ 224, 1191–1198 (1984). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Deirmendjian, D. _Adv. Geophys._ 16, 267–297 (1973). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Murrow, P. J., Rose, W. I. Jr & Self, S. _Geophys. Res. Lett._ 7, 893–896 (1980). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Toon, O. B. & Pollack, J. B. in _The Stratospheric Aerosol Layer_ (ed. Whitten, R. C.) 121–147 (Springer, Berlin, 1982). Book  Google Scholar  * Varekamp, J. C. & Luhr, J. F. _EOS_ 63, 1126 (1982). Google Scholar  * Duffield, W. A., Tilling, R. I. & Canul, R. _J. Volcan. Geotherm. Res._ 20, 117–132 (1984). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Keen, R. A. _Science_ 222, 1011–1013 (1983). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * McCormick, M. P. & Swissler, T. J. _Geophys. Res. Lett._ 10, 877–880 (1983). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Hofmann, D. J. & Rosen, J. M. _Univ. of Wyoming, Dept. Phys. Astr. Rep. AP-77_, 1–27 (1983). * Haughton, D. R., Roeder, P. L. & Skinner, B. J. _Econ. Geol._ 69, 451–467 (1974). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Eichelberger, J. C. & Westrich, H. R. _Geophys. Res. Lett._ 8, 757–760 (1981). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Devine, J. D., Sigurdsson, H., Davis, A. N. & Self, S. _J. geophys. Res._ 89, 6309–6325 (1984). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Hammer, C. U., Clausen, H. B. & Dansgaard, W. _Nature_ 288, 230–235 (1980). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Rose, W. I., Jr., Stoiber, R. E. & Malinconico, L. L. in _Andesites_ (ed. Thorpe, R. S.) 669–676 (Wiley, New York, 1982). Google Scholar  * Rose, W. I., Jr., Wunderman, R. L., Hoffman, M. F. & Gale, L. _J. Volcan. Geotherm. Res._ 17, 133–157 (1983). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Eichelberger, J. C. _Nature_ 275, 21–27 (1978). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Taylor, B. L., Gal-Chen, T. & Schneider, S. H. _Q. Jl R. met. Soc._ 196, 175–199 (1978). Google Scholar  * Self, S., Rampino, M. R. & Barbera, J. J. _J. Volcan. Geotherm. Res._ 11, 41–60 (1981). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Self, S., Rampino, M. R., Newton, M. S. & Wolff, J. A. _Geology_ (in the press). * Jones, P. D., Wigley, T. M. L. & Kelly, P. M. _Mon. Weath. Rev._ 110, 59–70 (1982). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Williams, S. N. & Self, S. _J. Volcan. Geotherm. Res._ 16, 33–56 (1983). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Hildreth, W. _J. Volcan. Geotherm. Res._ 18, 1–56 (1983). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Lipman, P. W. & Mullineaux, D. R. (eds), _U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Pap._ 1250, 1–844 (1981). * Newell, R. E. & Deepak, A.(eds) _NASA SP-458_, 1–119 (1982). * Robock, A. _Science_ 212, 1383–1384 (1981). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Jones, P. D. _Climate Monitor_ 11, 125 (1982). Google Scholar  * Köppen, W. Z. _öst. Gesell. Met._ 8, 257–267 (1973). Google Scholar  Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, New York, 10025, USA Michael R. Rampino * Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York, 10964, USA Michael R. Rampino * Department of Geology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, 76019, USA Stephen Self Authors * Michael R. Rampino View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Stephen Self View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Rampino, M., Self, S. Sulphur-rich volcanic eruptions and stratospheric aerosols. _Nature_ 310, 677–679 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/310677a0 Download citation * Received: 03 January 1984 * Accepted: 15 June 1984 * Issue Date: 23 August 1984 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/310677a0 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: Get shareable link Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article. Copy to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

ABSTRACT During the past decade it has become clear that the long-lived stratospheric clouds produced by volcanic eruptions are composed largely of sulphuric acid aerosols1,2. The amount of


sulphur-rich volatiles (for example, SO2, H2S) injected into the stratosphere by an explosive eruption is, therefore, a critical determinant of its atmospheric impact3,4. The small-volume


eruptions of Mt Agung in 1963 and El Chichón in 1982 both generated substantial stratospheric aerosol clouds, despite the fact that they erupted ≲0.5 km3 of magma. Comparison of data from


direct measurements of stratospheric optical depth, Greenland ice-core acidity, and volcanological studies shows that such relatively small, but sulphur-rich, eruptions can have atmospheric


effects equal to or even greater than much larger sulphur-poor eruptions. These small eruptions are probably the most frequent cause of increased stratospheric aerosols. Access through your


institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your institution Subscribe to this journal Receive 51 print


issues and online access $199.00 per year only $3.90 per issue Learn more Buy this article * Purchase on SpringerLink * Instant access to full article PDF Buy now Prices may be subject to


local taxes which are calculated during checkout ADDITIONAL ACCESS OPTIONS: * Log in * Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT


BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS DECADAL-TO-CENTENNIAL INCREASES OF VOLCANIC AEROSOLS FROM ICELAND CHALLENGE THE CONCEPT OF A MEDIEVAL QUIET PERIOD Article Open access 10 April 2024 PERSISTING


VOLCANIC ASH PARTICLES IMPACT STRATOSPHERIC SO2 LIFETIME AND AEROSOL OPTICAL PROPERTIES Article Open access 10 September 2020 VOLCANIC FORCING OF HIGH-LATITUDE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE ERUPTIONS


Article Open access 08 January 2024 REFERENCES * Castleman, A. W. Jr., Munkelwitz, H. R. & Manowitz, B. _Tellus_ 26, 222–234 (1974). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Pollack, J. B.


_et al._ _J. geophys. Res._ 81, 1071–1083 (1976). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Rampino, M. R. & Self, S. _Quat. Res._ 18, 127–143 (1982). Article  Google Scholar  * Sigurdsson,


H. _EOS_ 63, 601–602 (1982). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Pollack, J. B., Toon, O. B., Danielsen, E. F., Hofmann, D. J. & Rosen, J. M. _Geophys. Res. Lett._ 10, 989–992 (1983).


Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Rampino, M. R. & Self, S. _Scient. Am._ 205, 48–57 (1984). Article  Google Scholar  * Lamb, H. H. _Phil. Trans. R. Soc._ A266, 425–533 (1970). Article 


ADS  Google Scholar  * Hansen, J. E., Wang, W.-C. & Lacis, A. A. _Science_ 199, 1065–1068 (1978). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Newhall, C. G. & Self, S. _J. geophys. Res._


87, 1231–1238 (1982). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Simkin, T., Siebert, L., McClelland, L., Bridge, D., Newhall, C. & Latter, J. H. _Volcanoes of the World_ (Hutchinson Ross,


Stroudsburg, 1981). Google Scholar  * Self, S. & Rampino, M. R. Preprint, Univ. Texas (1984). * Wilson, L., Sparks, R. S. J., Huang, T. C. & Watkins, N. D. _J. geophys. Res._ 83,


1829–1836 (1978). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Zen, M. T. & Hadikusumo, D. _Bull. volcan._ 27, 269–299 (1965). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Mossop, S. C. _Nature_ 203, 824–827


(1964). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Volz, F. E. _J. geophys. Res._ 75, 5185–5193 (1970). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Mendonca, B. G., Hanson, K. J. & Deluisi, J. J. _Science_


202, 512–515 (1978). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Stothers, R. B. _Science_ 224, 1191–1198 (1984). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Deirmendjian, D. _Adv. Geophys._ 16, 267–297


(1973). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Murrow, P. J., Rose, W. I. Jr & Self, S. _Geophys. Res. Lett._ 7, 893–896 (1980). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Toon, O. B. & Pollack,


J. B. in _The Stratospheric Aerosol Layer_ (ed. Whitten, R. C.) 121–147 (Springer, Berlin, 1982). Book  Google Scholar  * Varekamp, J. C. & Luhr, J. F. _EOS_ 63, 1126 (1982). Google


Scholar  * Duffield, W. A., Tilling, R. I. & Canul, R. _J. Volcan. Geotherm. Res._ 20, 117–132 (1984). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Keen, R. A. _Science_ 222, 1011–1013 (1983).


Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * McCormick, M. P. & Swissler, T. J. _Geophys. Res. Lett._ 10, 877–880 (1983). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Hofmann, D. J. & Rosen, J. M. _Univ.


of Wyoming, Dept. Phys. Astr. Rep. AP-77_, 1–27 (1983). * Haughton, D. R., Roeder, P. L. & Skinner, B. J. _Econ. Geol._ 69, 451–467 (1974). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Eichelberger,


J. C. & Westrich, H. R. _Geophys. Res. Lett._ 8, 757–760 (1981). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Devine, J. D., Sigurdsson, H., Davis, A. N. & Self, S. _J. geophys. Res._ 89,


6309–6325 (1984). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Hammer, C. U., Clausen, H. B. & Dansgaard, W. _Nature_ 288, 230–235 (1980). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Rose, W. I., Jr.,


Stoiber, R. E. & Malinconico, L. L. in _Andesites_ (ed. Thorpe, R. S.) 669–676 (Wiley, New York, 1982). Google Scholar  * Rose, W. I., Jr., Wunderman, R. L., Hoffman, M. F. & Gale,


L. _J. Volcan. Geotherm. Res._ 17, 133–157 (1983). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Eichelberger, J. C. _Nature_ 275, 21–27 (1978). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Taylor, B. L.,


Gal-Chen, T. & Schneider, S. H. _Q. Jl R. met. Soc._ 196, 175–199 (1978). Google Scholar  * Self, S., Rampino, M. R. & Barbera, J. J. _J. Volcan. Geotherm. Res._ 11, 41–60 (1981).


Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Self, S., Rampino, M. R., Newton, M. S. & Wolff, J. A. _Geology_ (in the press). * Jones, P. D., Wigley, T. M. L. & Kelly, P. M. _Mon. Weath. Rev._


110, 59–70 (1982). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Williams, S. N. & Self, S. _J. Volcan. Geotherm. Res._ 16, 33–56 (1983). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Hildreth, W. _J. Volcan.


Geotherm. Res._ 18, 1–56 (1983). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Lipman, P. W. & Mullineaux, D. R. (eds), _U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Pap._ 1250, 1–844 (1981). * Newell, R. E. &


Deepak, A.(eds) _NASA SP-458_, 1–119 (1982). * Robock, A. _Science_ 212, 1383–1384 (1981). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Jones, P. D. _Climate Monitor_ 11, 125 (1982). Google Scholar


  * Köppen, W. Z. _öst. Gesell. Met._ 8, 257–267 (1973). Google Scholar  Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York,


New York, 10025, USA Michael R. Rampino * Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York, 10964, USA Michael R. Rampino * Department of Geology,


University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, 76019, USA Stephen Self Authors * Michael R. Rampino View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar


* Stephen Self View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE


Rampino, M., Self, S. Sulphur-rich volcanic eruptions and stratospheric aerosols. _Nature_ 310, 677–679 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/310677a0 Download citation * Received: 03 January 1984


* Accepted: 15 June 1984 * Issue Date: 23 August 1984 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/310677a0 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:


Get shareable link Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article. Copy to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative