New discoveries dated the overdrill of Los Chocoyos 79,500 years ago, indicating that the Earth bounced back within decades
Geochemical analysis of major oxides of coretephra debris in ice and marine sediments analyzed analysis correlated with LCY ash. Credit: Communications Earth & Environment (2025). doi:10.1038/s43247-025-02095-6
An international team of Earth and Life scientists, hydrologists, chemists and physicists have found evidence that overdrilling of Los Chocoyos occurred about 79,500 years ago, and that the planet bounced back from its chilling effects within decades.
In their paper published in the Journal Communications Earth & Environment, the group explains how they studied ice core samples from locations in Greenland and Antarctica to learn more about the global effects of ancient volcanic eruptions.
Previous evidence shows that the current Atitlan volcanic system in Guatemala was spitting ash into the atmosphere tens of thousands of years ago. It is believed that a great deal of ash was released, which is believed to have led to the Ice Age. Today, the eruption is known as overdrilling of Los Chocoyos.
The researchers wanted to learn more about the global impact of the eruption, so they ventured into Greenland and Antarctica to get an ice core that they knew would reveal the condition of the atmosphere during the eruption.
When studying layers of material within the ice core, researchers were able to calculate that the eruption occurred about 79,500 years ago when ashes from the volcano reached the location where the ice core was born. They also pointed out that the eruption was devastating. The amount of ash released was causing global changes, such as cooling and sunlight loss. However, they also discovered that the ashes were clean and the planet was able to return to its previous state in just a few decades.
Researchers argue that their work will dramatically change our understanding of what happened during and after the overdrill of Los Chocoyos, and also call for a questioning theory that suggests that future super-earplates could kick a new ice age and possibly kill humanity. The team plans to continue their research to examine the effects of other Super Eltlers in the distant past, in order to better predict the impact of future events.
More details: Helen M. Innes et al, ICE core evidence from Los Chocoyos Super Eruption challenges the millennial size climate impact, Communications Earth & Environment (2025). doi:10.1038/s43247-025-02095-6
©2025 Science X Network
Citation: New findings date Los Chocoyos supereruption to 79,500 years ago, and show Earth bounced back within decades (2025, March 1) retrieved 1 March 2025 from https://phys.org/news/2025-02-date-los-chocoyos-supereruption-years.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from fair transactions for private research or research purposes, there is no part that is reproduced without written permission. Content is provided with information only.
