Major Differences in Regional Climate Impact Between High‐ and Low‐Latitude Volcanic Eruptions

Abstract

AbstractMajor low‐latitude volcanic eruptions cool Earth’s climate, and can lead to a positive phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) during winter. However, the question of the climate and circulation impact of Northern Hemisphere high‐latitude eruptions has received less attention. Here we show that, contrary to low‐latitude eruptions, the response to high‐latitude eruptions can be associated with negative NAO both winter and summer. We furthermore demonstrate that also the response to low‐latitude eruptions prevails during summer months, and corroborates previous findings of an extended impact on winter circulation lasting up to 5 years. Our analysis of novel climate field reconstructions supports this extended response, with the addition of showing a positive NAO during summer after low‐latitude eruptions. The differences in the effect of high‐ and low‐latitude eruptions on atmospheric circulation and regional temperature provide important insights for the understanding of past and future climate changes in response to volcanic forcing.