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Geology; August 2006; v. 34; no. 8; p. 609-612; DOI: 10.1130/G22605.1
© 2006 Geological Society of America
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Millennium-scale volcanic impact on a superhumid and pristine ecosystem

Rolf Kilian1, Harald Biester2, Jan Behrmann3, Oscar Baeza4, Martinus Fesq-Martin5, Miriam Hohner6, Daniel Schimpf7, Arne Friedmann8 and Augusto Mangini9

1 Lehrstuhl für Geologie, Universität Trier, FB VI, 54286 Trier, Germany
2 Institut für Umweltgeochemie, Universität Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
3 Leibniz-Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Wischhofstr. 1-3, 24148 Kiel, Germany
4 Lehrstuhl für Geologie, Universität Trier, FB VI, 54286 Trier, Germany
5 Institut für Geographie, Universität Augsburg, 86135 Augsburg, Germany
6 Geologisches Institut, Universität Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
7 Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
8 Institut für Geographie, Universität Augsburg, 86135 Augsburg, Germany
9 Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany

Ecosystems damaged by distal volcanic ash and sulfur deposition usually recover within decades. However, sediment, stalagmite, and pollen records from the southernmost Andes indicate a 2000 yr impact on forest and aquatic ecosystems after deposition of a thin tephra layer. SO2 released from altering pumice produced intense soil and lake acidification in a >150,000 km2 area. Acidification led to nutrient leaching and affected soil microorganisms, causing plant decay and increased soil erosion in an area larger than 8000 km2. We conclude that weakly buffered soils in humid environments are extremely vulnerable to volcanic and anthropogenic acidification, causing long-lasting ecosystem damage and perturbations of paleoclimate proxy records.

Key Words: volcanic impact • acidification • ecosystem






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