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Low latitude volcanic eruptions and the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation
Author(s) -
Nicholls Neville
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of climatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.58
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-0088
pISSN - 0196-1748
DOI - 10.1002/joc.3370080109
Subject(s) - volcano , geology , vulcanian eruption , latitude , anomaly (physics) , el niño southern oscillation , climatology , secular variation , middle latitudes , oscillation (cell signaling) , atmospheric sciences , seismology , geophysics , geodesy , physics , condensed matter physics , biology , genetics
An apparent association between low latitude volcanic eruptions and the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO), has been examined using a superposed epoch composite analysis of Darwin monthly mean pressure, an index of ENSO. Ten eruptions have been included in the analysis. In the composite, the date of eruption tends to be preceded by lower than average pressure at Darwin, and followed by above average pressure. A strong linear upward trend in the composite pressure anomaly starts well before the date of eruptions and continues for several months after the eruption. The analysis suggests that ENSO events are not caused by low latitude volcanic eruptions, since significant anomalies in Darwin pressure, and an upward trend in the anomalies, are observed well before the date of eruption. Low latitude eruptions tend to be preceded by the start of the sequence of events which leads to ENSO.