15384±578 cal. yr BP), Hudson (between 7707±185 and 7795±131 cal. yr BP) and Aguilera (<3596±230 cal. yr BP) volcanoes also occur in some of the cores as indicated by the characteristic compositions of their tephra glass, which differ both from each other and also from that of tephra derived from Mount Burney. Significant loss of alkali elements during alteration of the volcanic glass in the tephra layers was observed, especially within acid peat soils, and this may be an important factor in the plant nutrient supply.]]>
Ecosystems damaged by distal volcanic ash and sulfur deposition usually recover within decades. However, sediment, stalagmite, and pollen records from the southernmost Andes indicate a 2000 yr impact on forest and aquatic ecosystems after deposition of a thin tephra layer. SO 2 released from altering pumice produced intense soil and lake acidification in a Ͼ150,000 km 2 area. Acidification led to nutrient leaching and affected soil microorganisms, causing plant decay and increased soil erosion in an area larger than 8000 km 2. We conclude that weakly buffered soils in humid environments are extremely vulnerable to volcanic and anthropogenic acidification, causing long-lasting ecosystem damage and perturbations of paleoclimate proxy records.
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