Unusual climate during Roman times plunged Eurasia into hunger and disease

Science News ^ | April 11, 2018 | University of Helsinki

[SunkenCiv]

A recent study indicates that volcanic eruptions in the mid 500s resulted in an unusually gloomy and cold period. A joint research project of the Chronology Laboratory of the Finnish Museum of Natural History and Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) suggests that the years 536 and 541-544 CE were very difficult... An extended period of little light may make it difficult for humans to survive. The level of production of plants is dependent on the amount of available sunlight. Food production, i.e, farming and animal husbandry, rely on the same solar energy. Humans, meanwhile, become more prone to disease if they are not exposed to enough sunlight to produce vitamin D. The aerosols that were released into the atmosphere with the eruptions covered the sun for a long time. The exceptionally poor climate conditions were significantly detrimental to farming and reduced the production of vitamin D among the populace. This means that the people who were already weakened by hunger also had to grapple with a compromised immune system... The new study tracks the correlation of carbon isotope variation and volcanic eruptions from the 19th century until recent years, and shows the dramatic reduction in available sunlight in 536 as well as between 541 and 544 CE. The variation of summer temperatures was similarly reconstructed on the basis of the density of the trees' annual growth rings. The unusually poor years coincide with the bubonic plague epidemic that devastated the Roman Empire. The epidemic caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium began in 542 CE and killed approximately half, or more, of the inhabitants of what was then considered the Eastern Roman Empire. The plague spread through Europe, from the Mediterranean, possibly as far north as Finland, and had killed tens of millions of people by the 8th century.

[SunkenCiv]

from the paper in Nature, "Volcanic dust veils from sixth century tree-ring isotopes linked to reduced irradiance, primary production and human health":

Figure 1 -- Sampling sites. Carbon isotope data of this study was collected from (a) upland and (b) riparian settings where the subfossil specimens are preserved in the lacustrine sediment and subaerially, respectively. Map showing the sampling sites for this study (star) (c). Photos by Hannu Herva (a) and Samuli Helama (b). The map was created by OriginPro 2017 SR1 software (http://www.originlab.com/).

• PDF version

[SunkenCiv]

join or quit view topics view or post blog bookmark post new topic subscribe

[SunkenCiv]

[Paladin2]

"...the eruptions covered the sun Erf for a long time..."

Science?

[PROCON]

Also unregulated chariot emissions contributed.

[Paladin2]

"The new study tracks the correlation of carbon isotope variation and volcanic eruptions from the 19th century until recent years, and shows the dramatic reduction in available sunlight in 536 as well as between 541 and 544 CE."

How does this make sense?

[gibsonguy]

Any article that uses “CE” as a date specifier I skip. It means the writer is a left wing hack, count on it.

[yuleeyahoo]

Trumps fault!

[Cowboy Bob]

Have they identified which volcanoes erupted?

[G Larry]

Twas those 8 cylinder, supercharged chariots!

[Paladin2]

"Volcanic dust ... linked to reduced irradiance, primary production and human health"

Not a very novel finding.

[chajin]

According to my old notes, the famine hits Constantinople in 536, then the plague in 541 (as bad as the Black Death of 1347, though it doesn’t get the same cachet in legend). Just as the plague begins to recede, the major earthquake of 557 destroys much of the city, and two years later, while the rubble is still being removed, the Huns (under Zabergan, not Attila) show up, but miraculously Belisarius is able to keep them from invading the city. And we think we have it bad.

[G Larry]

Regarding “CE”;

Atheists pretending they can use “science” to explain a godless creation.

[Paladin2]

If only it were a Nuclear Winter....

[blueunicorn6]

So the earth puts some ash up in the air, and everything falls apart?

Well, let’s take those cigarettes away from the earth, then.

Let’s put one of those nicotine patches on the earth.

Say, over Iran.

[Vehmgericht]

“CE” is based on the birth of the baby JESUS. Whenever you see it think of the baby JESUS. I also skip these articles.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Any or all of that can recur in our time. I suspect it will.

[PIF]

here’s part of a list I compiled for other purposes showing the volcanic eruptions from 0AD to 900AD and their VEI (St Hellens was VEI 5; each number greater is 10 times the previous expressivity). Each of those listed are 10 times greater than St Hellens.

• 0 A.D. - Carbon-14 Spike

• 50 A.D. - Ambrym, Vanuatu, Fiji Islands Erupts
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) = 6+

• 60 A.D. - Churchill, Eastern Alaska Erupts
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) = 6

• 180 A.D. - Taupo, New Zealand Erupts
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) = 6+

• 240 A.D. - Ksudach, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia Erupts
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) = 6

• 426 A.D. - Dark Ages (Middle Ages) Begins

• 450 A.D. - Ilopango, El Salvador Erupts
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) = 6

• 536 A.D. - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea Erupts
300 million tons of aerosols.
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) = 6.

• 700 A.D. - Churchill, Eastern Alaska Erupts
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) = 6

• 800 A.D. - • 1300 A.D. - The Medieval Warm Period

[Monkey Face]

I have to agree!

[rktman]

No Ram Hemis to blame then so, what's up with that? 🌋⛽️🏟