Publication Abstracts

Stothers 1989

Stothers, R.B., 1989: Volcanic eruptions and solar activity. J. Geophys. Res., 94, 17371-17381, doi:10.1029/JB094iB12p17371.

The historical record of large volcanic eruptions from 1500 to 1980, as contained in two recent catalogs, is subjected to detailed time series analysis. Two weak, but probably statistically significant, periodicities of ∼11 and ∼80 years are detected. Both cycles appear to correlate with well-known cycles of solar activity; the phasing is such that the frequency of volcanic eruptions increases (decreases) slightly around the times of solar minimum (maximum). The weak quasi-biennial solar cycle is not obviously seen in the eruption data, nor are the two slow lunar tidal cycles of 8.85 and 18.6 years. Time series analysis of the volcanogenic acidities in a deep ice core from Greenland, covering the years 553-1972, reveals several very long periods ranging from ∼80 to ∼350 years and are similar to the very slow solar cycles previously detected in auroral and carbon 14 records. Solar flares are believed to cause changes in atmospheric circulation patterns that abruptly alter the earth's spin. The resulting jolt probably triggers small earthquakes which may temporarily relieve some of the stress in volcanic magma chambers, thereby weakening, postponing, or even aborting imminent large eruptions. In addition, decreased atmospheric precipitation around the years of solar maximum may cause a relative deficit of phreatomagmatic eruptions at those times.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{st07500u,
  author={Stothers, R. B.},
  title={Volcanic eruptions and solar activity},
  year={1989},
  journal={J. Geophys. Res.},
  volume={94},
  pages={17371--17381},
  doi={10.1029/JB094iB12p17371},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - st07500u
AU  - Stothers, R. B.
PY  - 1989
TI  - Volcanic eruptions and solar activity
JA  - J. Geophys. Res.
VL  - 94
SP  - 17371
EP  - 17381
DO  - 10.1029/JB094iB12p17371
ER  -

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