These ash particles were expelled from Mount Bona-Churchill in Alaska over 1200 years ago. New chemical and physical analysis has shown that ash particles found as far away as northern Europe were part of the same eruption, demonstrating that even relatively moderate eruptions can spread ash much further than previously thought.
A 1,200-year-old volcanic eruption in Alaska spread ash as far away as northern Europe, a much wider range than previously thought, according to a new study.
The White River Ash originates from an ancient eruption of Mount Bona-Churchill and is found across Alaska and the Yukon. The White River Ash is sometimes called “Sam McGee’s ashes” in reference to the famous Robert W. Service poem
A new analysis of shape and chemistry show that the White River Ash and “AD860B” ash, which is found in Greenland and northern Europe, are from the same eruption.
The fact that even moderate eruptions can spread ash so far has implications for scientists looking to pin down the dates of deposits, as well as those looking to predict the impact of volcanoes on air travel.
Original research paper published in the journal Geology on October 1 , 2014.
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