Today, the German research vessel SONNE departs from Balboa (Panama) on a five-week expedition along the Central American Volcanic Arc.
Today, the German research vessel SONNE departs from Balboa (Panama) on a five-week expedition along the Central American Volcanic Arc. Under the leadership of PD Dr Steffen Kutterolf from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, researchers will investigate how climate change and volcanic activity are interconnected, and how chemical changes in volcanic products in sediments affect the global carbon cycle and the biosphere. The cruise also serves as a pre-site survey for a planned drilling proposal within the framework of the International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP3).
Explosive volcanic eruptions can influence the climate for years – for example, through ash and sulphur particles injected into the atmosphere that reduce solar radiation. Conversely, geological records show that changes in climate can also affect the frequency and intensity of eruptions. However, the exact link between these processes remains poorly understood.
“We want to determine whether major climatic changes – such as ice ages and warm periods – are reflected in the deposits of volcanic ash on the seafloor,” explains PD Dr Steffen Kutterolf, volcanologist at GEOMAR. “To do this, we are collecting samples along the Central American Volcanic Arc and its extension into southern Mexico, analysing how the frequency, composition, and chemical alteration of volcanic ash have evolved over time.”
Read More: Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)
Image: Today, the SONNE sets sail on an expedition along the Central American volcanic arc. The team on board will investigate how climate change and volcanism are linked and how the chemical transformation of volcanic products in sediment affects the global carbon cycle and the biosphere. (Credit: Photo: GEOMAR)
