The influence of the 73 ka Toba super-eruption on the ecosystems of northern Sumatra as recorded in marine core BAR94-25.

S. van der Kaars, M.A.J. Williams, F. Bassinot, F. Guichard, E. Moreno, F. Dewilde, E.J. Cook

    Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    Examination of pollen content and geochemical analysis of marine core BAR94-25 taken from ~100 km north-west of Sumatra in the Andaman Sea reveals a ~100,000 year record of environmental change as well as the influence of the Toba super-eruption at ~73,000 years ago on the ecosystems of northern Sumatra. The record also contains an older volcanic ash dated to ~89,000 years ago, allowing a comparison of the effects of two eruptions on the local environments of the island. The immediate effects of the older eruption on the ecosystem of northern Sumatra were limited, though a gradual and substantial increase in pine forest likely followed the event in the longer term. The Toba super-eruption at ~73,000 years ago, however, had an instantaneous and devastating effect on the pine forests of northern Sumatra. Evidence for impacts of this super-eruption at ~73,000 years ago on regional climatic conditions remains inconclusive. Climatic changes inferred from the pollen record or estimated via pollen transfer functions date to a few thousand years after the eruption, or are clearly linked to long-term climatic trends initiated a few thousand years before. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)45-53
    Number of pages9
    JournalQuaternary International
    Volume258
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2012

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