The precise date of the Laacher See eruption (LSE), central Europe's largest Late Pleistocene vol... more The precise date of the Laacher See eruption (LSE), central Europe's largest Late Pleistocene volcanic event that occurred around 12,900 years ago, is still unknown. Here, we outline the potential of combined high-resolution dendrochronological, wood anatomical and radiocarbon (14 C) measurements, to refine the age of this major Plinian eruption. Based on excavated trees that were killed during the explosive LSE and buried under its pyroclastic deposits, we describe how a firm date of the eruption might be achieved, and how the resulting temporal precision would further advance our understanding of the environmental and societal impacts of this event. Moreover, we discuss the relevance of an accurate LSE date for improving the synchronization of European terrestrial and lacustrine Late Glacial to Holocene archives, and outline how the proposed, interdisciplinary dating approach can be applied to other large, yet undated, volcanic eruptions.
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 2019
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Vor 12 900 Jahren ereignete sich in der Eifel bei Koblenz eine gewaltige Vulkaneruption. Glutlawi... more Vor 12 900 Jahren ereignete sich in der Eifel bei Koblenz eine gewaltige Vulkaneruption. Glutlawinen stauten den Rhein zu einem riesigen See auf, der vermutlich bis nach Mannheim reichte. Als der Damm brach, schoss eine uber zehn Meter hohe Flutwelle durch das Rheintal. Ahnliches konnte sich eines Tages wiederholen.
Laacher See Volcano (LSV), 40 km south of Bonn, explosively erupted ca. 6.3 km of chemically stro... more Laacher See Volcano (LSV), 40 km south of Bonn, explosively erupted ca. 6.3 km of chemically strongly zoned phonolite magma probably during spring, 12,900 years ago, the resulting eruption column having reached at least 20 km in height. The bulk of the Laacher See Tephra (LST) was deposited east of the volcano within the Neuwied Basin. LST ashes form the most important stratigraphic marker in Lateglacial deposits over much of Central Europe. A minimum of 2 Mt total S was calculated to have been released during the eruption by comparing pre-and posteruptive volatile concentrations in glass inclusions and pumice matrix glasses. Because a separate S-bearing vapor phase was probably present in the magma prior to eruption as indicated by the high melt-H O contents close to saturation level, the actual amount of S released during the eruption, could have signi"cantly exceeded 2 Mt. The sulfuric acid aerosol layer resulting from the massive stratospheric S-input probably resided in the stratosphere for years and most likely had a signi"cant impact on climate and thus the environment. Increased precipitation in central Europe and/or impairment of the vegetation cover for several years is suggested by several proxies, especially increased sediment supply into lakes. Proximal to the eruptive center, major environmental impacts include an initial blast that felled trees up to 4 km away from vent. Fast deposition of huge tephra volumes led to the complete disruption of Rhine River within the lower Neuwied Basin and the damming up of a lake ca. 140 km in areal extent. Sudden collapse of the temporary tephra dam caused a catastrophic #ood wave downstream whose deposits are recognized as far north as Bonn. Reworking of unconsolidated tephra deposits over several 100 km was widespread and extensive, generating abundant lahars and #ood plain deposits. A braided-river system, established in Neuwied Basin, probably persisted up to several years. Recent reports for a second eruption of LSV are not con"rmed.
Evolution of complex Plinian eruptions: the Late Quaternary Laacher See case history
van den Bogaard, Paul, Schmincke, Hans-Ulrich, Freundt, Armin and Park, C.(1990) Evolution of com... more van den Bogaard, Paul, Schmincke, Hans-Ulrich, Freundt, Armin and Park, C.(1990) Evolution of complex plinian eruptions: The Late Quaternary Laacher See case history In: Thera and the Aegean world III: proceedings of the Third International Congress, Santorini ...
The precise date of the Laacher See eruption (LSE), central Europe's largest Late Pleistocene vol... more The precise date of the Laacher See eruption (LSE), central Europe's largest Late Pleistocene volcanic event that occurred around 12,900 years ago, is still unknown. Here, we outline the potential of combined high-resolution dendrochronological, wood anatomical and radiocarbon (14 C) measurements, to refine the age of this major Plinian eruption. Based on excavated trees that were killed during the explosive LSE and buried under its pyroclastic deposits, we describe how a firm date of the eruption might be achieved, and how the resulting temporal precision would further advance our understanding of the environmental and societal impacts of this event. Moreover, we discuss the relevance of an accurate LSE date for improving the synchronization of European terrestrial and lacustrine Late Glacial to Holocene archives, and outline how the proposed, interdisciplinary dating approach can be applied to other large, yet undated, volcanic eruptions.
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 2019
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Vor 12 900 Jahren ereignete sich in der Eifel bei Koblenz eine gewaltige Vulkaneruption. Glutlawi... more Vor 12 900 Jahren ereignete sich in der Eifel bei Koblenz eine gewaltige Vulkaneruption. Glutlawinen stauten den Rhein zu einem riesigen See auf, der vermutlich bis nach Mannheim reichte. Als der Damm brach, schoss eine uber zehn Meter hohe Flutwelle durch das Rheintal. Ahnliches konnte sich eines Tages wiederholen.
Laacher See Volcano (LSV), 40 km south of Bonn, explosively erupted ca. 6.3 km of chemically stro... more Laacher See Volcano (LSV), 40 km south of Bonn, explosively erupted ca. 6.3 km of chemically strongly zoned phonolite magma probably during spring, 12,900 years ago, the resulting eruption column having reached at least 20 km in height. The bulk of the Laacher See Tephra (LST) was deposited east of the volcano within the Neuwied Basin. LST ashes form the most important stratigraphic marker in Lateglacial deposits over much of Central Europe. A minimum of 2 Mt total S was calculated to have been released during the eruption by comparing pre-and posteruptive volatile concentrations in glass inclusions and pumice matrix glasses. Because a separate S-bearing vapor phase was probably present in the magma prior to eruption as indicated by the high melt-H O contents close to saturation level, the actual amount of S released during the eruption, could have signi"cantly exceeded 2 Mt. The sulfuric acid aerosol layer resulting from the massive stratospheric S-input probably resided in the stratosphere for years and most likely had a signi"cant impact on climate and thus the environment. Increased precipitation in central Europe and/or impairment of the vegetation cover for several years is suggested by several proxies, especially increased sediment supply into lakes. Proximal to the eruptive center, major environmental impacts include an initial blast that felled trees up to 4 km away from vent. Fast deposition of huge tephra volumes led to the complete disruption of Rhine River within the lower Neuwied Basin and the damming up of a lake ca. 140 km in areal extent. Sudden collapse of the temporary tephra dam caused a catastrophic #ood wave downstream whose deposits are recognized as far north as Bonn. Reworking of unconsolidated tephra deposits over several 100 km was widespread and extensive, generating abundant lahars and #ood plain deposits. A braided-river system, established in Neuwied Basin, probably persisted up to several years. Recent reports for a second eruption of LSV are not con"rmed.
Evolution of complex Plinian eruptions: the Late Quaternary Laacher See case history
van den Bogaard, Paul, Schmincke, Hans-Ulrich, Freundt, Armin and Park, C.(1990) Evolution of com... more van den Bogaard, Paul, Schmincke, Hans-Ulrich, Freundt, Armin and Park, C.(1990) Evolution of complex plinian eruptions: The Late Quaternary Laacher See case history In: Thera and the Aegean world III: proceedings of the Third International Congress, Santorini ...
Uploads
Papers by Cornelia Park