Investigating the ENSO response of the tropical Pacific ocean to large Volcanic eruptions

Co-Author: Esther Brady
This study is motivated by previous analyses using both historical and proxy climate indices that suggested tropical volcanic eruptions lead to an El Nino-like warming in the immediate post eruption period. The investigation is focused on the tropical Pacific coupled ocean-atmosphere response to the largest tropical volcanic eruptions of the last millennium: Samalas in 1258, Kuwae in 1452 and Tambora in 1815, as well as the other largest eruptions over the last millennium. In particular focus is the upper ocean thermocline response and the assessment of the likelihood to trigger in the model an El Nino-like warming in the immediate aftermath of a very large eruption.