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    A stormy past: long-term temperature evolution and volcanic activity as drivers of Holocene storminess in the eastern North Atlantic


    Sjöström, J., Martínez Cortizas, A., Nylund, A., Piilo, S.R., Orme, L., Gyllencreutz, R., Schenk, F., Chiverrell, R., KcKeown, M., Ansberque, Claire and Kylander, M.E. (2026) A stormy past: long-term temperature evolution and volcanic activity as drivers of Holocene storminess in the eastern North Atlantic. Quaternary Science Reviews, 381 (109901). pp. 1-16. ISSN 02773791

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    Abstract

    Understanding long-term variability in storminess is essential for constraining future climate patterns in the eastern North Atlantic, a region shaped by complex ocean–atmosphere interactions. Here, we reconstruct storm, fire, and hydroclimate variability from grain size, inorganic geochemistry, plant macrofossil and molecular organic records since mid-Holocene at Glenties Bog, a coastal blanket bog in western Ireland. Comparing our results with existing palaeostorminess records, we provide new insights into a dynamic interplay between wind strength, fire incidence, and hydrological conditions throughout the Holocene. Long-term temperature evolution influenced the background wind and hydroclimatic state, while volcanic activity became a key forcing mechanism during parts of the late Holocene. The warm mid-Holocene coincided with lower wind strength and enhanced fire activity, while no assoication between storm periods and volcanic activity was inferred, indicating that the climate state at the time of the volcanic forcing affects the climatic response. These results indicate that future warming may lead to profound changes in wind strength, hydroclimate, and fire regimes. Notably, climate-change-induced lowering of peatland water tables may increase the susceptibility of blanket bogs to intense and deep peatland fires. This study provides new insight into Holocene wind and hydroclimate dynamics in the eastern North Atlantic, improving understanding of the mechanisms driving North Atlantic climate variability across contrasting climate states.
    Item Type: Article
    Additional Information: We thank Prof. S. Wastegård (Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University) for assistance with the visual identification of tephra particles in the Glenties record. We are grateful to Meghan Windell for pre-treatment of samples and conducting the grain size analysis. We are also grateful to the Bert Bolin Centre for Climate Research for travel and analytical funding. J. Sj¨ostr¨om was funded by Formas (Research Council for Sustainable Development, Sweden, grant number 2020-01536), Vetenskapsrådet (the Swedish Research Council, grant number 2019-03434) and the European Union (ERC Consolidator Grant, PollutedPast, 101087832). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. M Kylander was funded by Vetenskapsrådet (grant number 2019-03434) and FORMAS (grant number 2020-01536). A. Nylund was fun ded by Vetenskapsrådet (grant number 2022-04245). F. Schenk was funded by Formas (grant numbers 2020-01000 and 2023-01631). M. McKeown was funded by GSI (Geological Survey Ireland, grant number 2023-Tgc-012. C. Ansberque was funded by Formas (2022-00492).
    Keywords: stormy past; long-term temperature; evolution; volcanic activity; Holocene storminess; eastern North Atlantic;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography
    Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Institutes > Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units, ICARUS
    Item ID: 21340
    Identification Number: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2026.109901
    Depositing User: ICARUS Geography
    Date Deposited: 25 Mar 2026 13:44
    Journal or Publication Title: Quaternary Science Reviews
    Publisher: Elsevier
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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