Geological Society
Special Publication
W.J. McGuire (Editor), & C R Firth (Editor)
Hardcover: 220 pages
Publisher: Geological Society Publishing House (Aug 1999)
Language English
ISBN-10: 186239049
It has long been suggested that there is a causal link between volcanic activity and Quaternary environmental change. Earlier work pointed to the volcanic activity driving large-scale Quaternary glacial fluctuations. However, a growing body of evidence lends weight to the converse view that Quaternary environmental changes resulted in increased volcanic activity. Using tephra layers as chronological horizons, researchers have begun to suggest that these volcanic events may have produced not only short-term climate changes but also variations in regional vegetation patterns and the distribution of society.
A full understanding of the complex interaction between volcanic activity and Quaternary environmental change requires the collaboration of both volcanologists and Quaternary scientists. Volcanoes in the Quaternary brings together papers from workers in both fields and reflects the diversity of current research. The papers are grouped geographically and focus on New Zealand’s North Island, the East African Rift Valley, the Mediterranean and Iceland. They cover the determination of eruptive chronologies, discuss the impacts on local vegetation and society, outline the importance of tephrostratigraphic records and provide detailed studies of hazard assessment.