‘Mystery volcano’ that erupted and cooled Earth in 1831 has finally been identified

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🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists have identified Zavaritskii volcano on Simushir Island, in the northwest Pacific’s Kuril Islands, as the source of a major 1831 eruption
• This eruption released vast sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, cooling the Northern Hemisphere by about 1°C during the Little Ice Age
• The discovery follows geochemical analysis of ice cores and volcanic ash

🔭 The context: The 1831 eruption was previously attributed to tropical volcanoes like Babuyan Claro in the Philippines, but its actual location was unknown until now
• The Kuril Islands, disputed by Russia and Japan, are remote and sparsely studied, complicating historical records
• The eruption marked the final cooling phase of the Little Ice Age, which caused widespread climate and societal impacts

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The study underscores how volcanic eruptions in isolated areas can have global climate repercussions, such as crop failures and famines
• Understanding past volcanic events improves predictive capabilities for future eruptions and their potential to disrupt ecosystems, weather, and economies
• It highlights the need for better monitoring of remote volcanoes

⏭️ What's next: Researchers plan to examine historical records in Russia and Japan for additional evidence of the eruption
• The study calls for improved international cooperation to prepare for large-scale volcanic events
• Enhanced monitoring systems could mitigate future global disruptions

💬 One quote: "The moment in the lab analyzing the two ashes together… was a genuine eureka moment," - lead author Dr. William Hutchison, University of St. Andrews

📈 One stat: The 1831 sulfur fallout in Greenland was 6.5 times greater than in Antarctica, confirming the eruption’s Northern Hemisphere origin

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