Ancient Global Dimming Linked to Volcanic Eruption

[Mugu]

A "dry fog" that muted the sun's rays in A.D. 536 and plunged half the world into a famine-inducing chill was triggered by the eruption of a supervolcano, a new study says.

The cause of the sixth-century global dimming has long been a matter of debate, but a team of international researchers recently discovered acidic sulphate molecules, which are signs of an eruption, in Greenland ice.

This is the first physical evidence for the A.D. 536 event, which according to ancient texts from Mesoamerica, Europe, and Asia brought on a cold darkness that withered crops, sparked wars, and helped spread pestilence.

Scientists had suspected the dry fog was caused by a volcanic eruption or a comet strike, but searches had failed to uncover evidence for either catastrophe—until now.

Read complete article at:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/03/080319-global-dimming.html

[cliss]

1. Very

interesting and thanks for posting, Mugu.

I recall reading about that several years ago. At that time, no one really knew for sure what happened back then.

[Mugu]

2. It was my pleasure cliss.

Regards, Mugu

[Garbo 2004]

3. Cool. Thanks. n/t

[Warpy]

4. Supervolcano near the equator?

Maybe it was the one on Sumatra. I know the one here in NM deposited a layer of ash that has been compressed to about 10 meters thick, but it last erupted about a million years ago, long before this part of the world was settled, before hominids had poked their noses outside Africa.