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Mid‐ocean ridge eruptions as a climate valve
Author(s) -
Tolstoy Maya
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl063015
Subject(s) - geology , milankovitch cycles , seafloor spreading , interglacial , sea level , orbital forcing , glacial period , climate oscillation , bathymetry , oceanography , climatology , climate change , paleontology , global warming , effects of global warming
Seafloor eruption rates and mantle melting fueling eruptions may be influenced by sea level and crustal loading cycles at scales from fortnightly to 100 kyr. Recent mid‐ocean ridge eruptions occur primarily during neap tides and the first 6 months of the year, suggesting sensitivity to minor changes in tidal forcing and orbital eccentricity. An ~100 kyr periodicity in fast‐spreading seafloor bathymetry and relatively low present‐day eruption rates at a time of high sea level and decreasing orbital eccentricity suggest a longer‐term sensitivity to sea level and orbital variations associated with Milankovitch cycles. Seafloor spreading is considered a small but steady contributor of CO 2 to climate cycles on the 100 kyr time scale; however, this assumes a consistent short‐term eruption rate. Pulsing of seafloor volcanic activity may feed back into climate cycles, possibly contributing to glacial/interglacial cycles, the abrupt end of ice ages, and dominance of the 100 kyr cycle.