Icelandic volcanic ash and the mid-Holocene Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) pollen decline in northern Scotland

J. J. Blackford; K. J. Edwards; A. J. Dugmore; G. T. Cook; P. C. Buckland

doi:10.1177/095968369200200308

Icelandic volcanic ash and the mid-Holocene Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) pollen decline in northern Scotland

J. J. Blackford, K. J. Edwards, A. J. Dugmore, G. T. Cook, P. C. Buckland

Humanities Social Sciences and Law Office

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

102 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A volcanic ash-layer in peat from northern Scotland has been identified and coincides exactly with an abrupt decline in Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) pollen frequencies. This provides an isochrone (time-equivalent marker horizon) with which to investigate the timing of the Holocene 'pine-decline'. Furthermore, two possible causes of the southward shift of the range of Pinus in Scotland c. 4000 BP are suggested; a direct effect of acid pollution by chemicals produced by the eruption of Hekla (H-4), or a volcanically-induced climatic perturbation. These possibilities have wider implications for the influence of volcanism on postglacial environmental change.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	260-265
Number of pages	6
Journal	The Holocene
Volume	2
Issue number	3
Early online date	1 Oct 1992
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/095968369200200308
Publication status	Published - Oct 1992

Keywords

tephra
palynology
pine-decline
Hekla
acid deposition
climate change
Scotland

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Global and Planetary Change
Archaeology
Ecology
Earth-Surface Processes
Palaeontology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1177/095968369200200308

Cite this

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title = "Icelandic volcanic ash and the mid-Holocene Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) pollen decline in northern Scotland",

abstract = "A volcanic ash-layer in peat from northern Scotland has been identified and coincides exactly with an abrupt decline in Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) pollen frequencies. This provides an isochrone (time-equivalent marker horizon) with which to investigate the timing of the Holocene 'pine-decline'. Furthermore, two possible causes of the southward shift of the range of Pinus in Scotland c. 4000 BP are suggested; a direct effect of acid pollution by chemicals produced by the eruption of Hekla (H-4), or a volcanically-induced climatic perturbation. These possibilities have wider implications for the influence of volcanism on postglacial environmental change.",

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AU - Blackford, J. J.

AU - Edwards, K. J.

AU - Dugmore, A. J.

AU - Cook, G. T.

AU - Buckland, P. C.

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Icelandic volcanic ash and the mid-Holocene Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) pollen decline in northern Scotland

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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