The Apoyo Caldera in Nicaragua was the site of a major volcanic eruption 24,500 years ago. New research suggests the eruption, and others like it, could have released gases that temporarily depleted the ozone layer. Photo: S. Kutterolf, GEOMAR
Dr Kirstin Krüger presents the new research at the Chapman Conference on Volcanism and the Atmosphere of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) in Selfoss, Island. Photo: Kate Ramsayer, AGU

Volcanic gases could deplete ozone layer

GEOMAR meteorologist presents new research at AGU Conference in Iceland

June 12, 2012/Kiel, Selfoss. Giant volcanic eruptions in Nicaragua over the past 70,000 years could have injected enough gases into the atmosphere to temporarily thin the ozone layer, according to new research done by scientists of GEOMAR | Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (Germany). Today Kirstin Krüger, meteorologist with GEOMAR, presented the new insights at the Chapman Conference on Volcanism and the Atmopshere in Selfoss (Iceland)

The full press release in english you find on the website of the American Geophysical Union:

http://www.agu.org/news/press/pr_archives/2012/2012-30.shtml

 

Contact:
Jan Steffen (GEOMAR, Communication and Media), +49 431 600 2811, jsteffen(at)geomar.de   
Kate Ramsayer (AGU, Public Information Specialist and Writer), kramsayer(at)agu.org 

The Apoyo Caldera in Nicaragua was the site of a major volcanic eruption 24,500 years ago. New research suggests the eruption, and others like it, could have released gases that temporarily depleted the ozone layer. Photo: S. Kutterolf, GEOMAR
The Apoyo Caldera in Nicaragua was the site of a major volcanic eruption 24,500 years ago. New research suggests the eruption, and others like it, could have released gases that temporarily depleted the ozone layer. Photo: S. Kutterolf, GEOMAR
Dr Kirstin Krüger presents the new research at the Chapman Conference on Volcanism and the Atmosphere of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) in Selfoss, Island. Photo: Kate Ramsayer, AGU
Dr Kirstin Krüger presents the new research at the Chapman Conference on Volcanism and the Atmosphere of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) in Selfoss, Island. Photo: Kate Ramsayer, AGU