Modeling the 1783–1784 Laki Eruption in Iceland: 1. Aerosol Evolution and Global Stratospheric Circulation Impacts
Abstract
The 1783–1784 CE Laki flood lava eruption began on 8 June 1783. Over the course of 8 months, the eruption released approximately 122 Tg of sulfur dioxide gas into the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere above Iceland. Previous studies that have examined the impact of the Laki eruption on sulfate aerosol and climate have either used an aerosol model coupled off‐line to a general circulation model (GCM) or used a GCM with incomplete aerosol microphysics. Here, we study the impact on stratospheric aerosol evolution and stratospheric and tropospheric circulation using a fully coupled GCM with complete aerosol microphysics, the Community Earth System Model version 1, with the Whole Atmosphere Chemistry Climate Model high‐top atmosphere component. Simulations indicate that the Laki aerosols had peak average effective radii of approximately 0.4 μm in Northern Hemisphere (NH) middle and high latitudes, with peak average effective radii of 0.25 μm in NH tropics and 0.2 μm in the Southern Hemisphere. We find that the Laki aerosols are transported globally and have significant impacts on the circulation in both hemispheres, strengthening the Southern Hemisphere polar vortex and shifting the tropospheric NH subtropical jet equatorward.
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The climatic impacts associated with the Hrafnkatla event are generally comparable to other large Icelandic volcanic eruptions such as Eldgjá 939 CE and Laki 1783 CE, with strong winter cooling anomalies across Europe and perturbations to the hydrological cycle.
“The climatic impacts associated with the Hrafnkatla event (the stratospheric eruption which marks the end of Hrafnkatla episode in 762 CE) are generally comparable to other large Icelandic volcanic eruptions such as Eldgjá 939 CE and Laki 1783 CE, with strong winter cooling anomalies across Europe 28,56,57 and perturbations to the hydrological cycle 56,[58][59][60] .”
From Decadal-to-centennial increases of volcanic aerosols from Iceland challenge the concept of a Medieval Quiet Period (2024) · cites this paper as [57]
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“…with the Hrafnkatla event(thestratosphericeruptionwhichmarkstheendofHrafnkatlaepisode in762CE)aregenerallycomparabletootherlargeIcelandicvolcanic eruptionssuchasEldgjá939CEandLaki1783CE,withstrongwinter coolinganomaliesacrossEurope 28,56,57 andperturbationstothehydrological cycle 56,58 – 60 .”
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- Authors
- Zambri, B., Robock, A., Mills, M. J., & Schmidt, A.
- Affiliations
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (US)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Zambri, Brian
- Venue
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Published
- 2019-07-04
- Volume
- 124
- Issue
- 13
- Pages
- 6750-6769
- ISSN
- 0148-0227 (ISSN-L)
- 2169-897X
- 2169-8996
- OpenAlex
- W2946551145
- Cited by
- 32
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 1.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation (AGS‐1430051)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Keywords
- Laki eruption, volcanic aerosols, sulfur dioxide, aerosol microphysics, aerosol effective radius, stratospheric circulation, tropospheric circulation, subtropical jet, volcanic climate impact, WACCM, Community Earth System Model
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