How a volcanic eruption in the 1980s triggered a 'spurt' of global warming:
Event caused a shift in Earth's climate that may have killed off several species of animal
Scientists said there was a sudden change in the environment from 1984
Caused by an eruption in Mexico in 1982 combined with human activity
This saw a series of 'regime shifts' sweep ecosystems around the world
These include increased river flow, wind pattern changes and extinctions
Scientists have discovered there was an abrupt shift in environments and ecosystems all over the world (illustrated) as a volcanic eruption in Mexico combined with human activities to cause a sudden increase in global temperatures. They say they swept through each region year by year between 1984 and 1988.
The study found there was a steep increase in global temperatures around the world in the wake of the El Chichón volcanic eruption.
These included a 60 per cent increase in winter river flow into the Baltic Sea, and a 400 per cent increase in the duration of wildfires in the western United States.
They also noted there were shifts in the winds high in the atmosphere and an increase in the number of days of topical storms.
Costa Rica suffered dramatic declines in amphibian and reptile populations in the 80s.
The researchers said the changes first appeared in South America in 1984, moving to North America in 1985, the North Atlantic in 1986, Europe in 1987 and Asia in 1988.
These dates coincide with significant shifts to an earlier flowering date for cherry trees around the Earth in Washington DC, Switzerland, and Japan.
They also coincided with the first evidence of the extinction of amphibians linked to global warming, such as the harlequin frog and golden toad in Central and South America.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3331838/How-volcanic-eruption-1980s-triggered-spurt-global-warming-Event-caused-shift-Earth-s-climate-killed-species-animal.html#ixzz3sQjf5oaE
