Hekla 3 eruption facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hekla 3 eruption |
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| Volcano | Hekla |
| Date | c. 1000 BC |
| Type | Plinian |
| Location | Iceland 63°59′N 19°42′W / 63.983°N 19.700°W |
| VEI | 5 |
| Impact | Caused worldwide temperatures to drop for 18 years |
 Hekla
Hekla on the map of Iceland
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The Hekla 3 eruption (H-3) happened around 1000 BC. It is thought to be the strongest eruption of Hekla volcano in Iceland during the last 11,700 years. This huge eruption blasted about 7.3 cubic kilometers of volcanic rock into the air. This amount of material gives it a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 5. Such a powerful eruption can cause a "volcanic winter". This means temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere would have dropped for several years.
Contents
How Hekla 3 Changed the World
A Chilly Planet: Global Cooling
The Hekla 3 eruption caused a long period of global cooling. This cooling lasted for about eighteen years. Scientists have found records of this cold period in Irish bog oaks. These trees show very narrow growth rings from that time. This suggests the weather was much colder than usual.
Clues from Nature: Ice and Trees
Scientists can detect the Hekla 3 eruption in different ways. They study ice cores from Greenland. These ice cores contain layers of ash and chemicals from past eruptions. The eruption also left its mark in the growth rings of bristlecone pine trees. These trees, like the Irish oaks, show very thin rings. This also points to a period of harsh, cold weather.
When Did Hekla 3 Happen?
Different Ideas on the Date
Scientists have worked hard to figure out the exact date of the Hekla 3 eruption. Andy Baker's team used different clues to estimate the date. They suggested it happened around 1021 BC. They also looked at how stalagmites grow in caves. This helped them support an earlier date for the eruption.
Another View: A Later Date
Another scientist, Andrew Dugmore, has a different idea. He believes the eruption happened later, around 929 BC. Some Egyptologists have even linked the eruption to 1159 BC. They think it caused famines during the time of Ramesses III. This was part of a bigger event called the Bronze Age collapse. However, scientists continue to discuss and research the exact date of this powerful eruption.
See also
- Geography of Iceland
- Iceland plume
- Iceland hotspot
- List of volcanoes in Iceland
- Volcanism of Iceland
