Earthquakes and volcanic eruption in Ethiopia

“John Marshall says:
June 13, 2011 at 2:44 am
Volcano caused by continental extension, the African rift valley and its continuation through the Red Sea which eventually will become a new ocean. (100 Ma or so)”
You are very correct. The Afar region is ALREADY below sea level. The whole region is “pulling” itesel apart. This eruption won’t affect my wife, as it is, but the Chilean eruption apperas to be causing massive disruption to Aus.

“biddyb says:
June 13, 2011 at 3:38 am”
The main issue is they have not experienced such significant events in RECENT HUMAN history. That is the problem. If anyone who studies geology and looks at Christchurch (ChCh), Wellington and even Auckland, can see, CLEARLY, there is risk of activity. Look at the geology of ChCh…its a volcano reminant, active? Who knows.

Belated congratulations Anthony. You were the first blog to report, I think. I checked Dr. Harrington’s Volcanism Blog yesterday right after I read your post and again last evening, and he hadn’t anything up.
But he’s following now, and has a few images: http://volcanism.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/eruption-in-eritrea-1000-km-plume/
OK S.

http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?2003ESASP.535..393S&data_type=PDF_HIGH&whole_paper=YES&type=PRINTER&filetype=.pdf

POSSIBLE CORRELATION BETWEEN SOLAR AND VOLCANIC ACTIVITY IN
A LONG-TERM SCALE
2003ESASP.535..393S
Jaroslav StreStlk
Geophysical Institute AS CR, Bocni 11 1401, 141 31 Prague, Czech Republic, Email: xxx@XXX.xxx
Abstract:
Volcanic activity on the Earth is described by special
annual indices available since 1500. These indices have
been compared with annual sunspot numbers. Volcanic
activity displays no ll-yr periodicity. Using 2l-yr
running averages a striking similarity between these
two time series is clearly seen. Volcanic activity is
generally lower in periods of prolonged maxima of
solar activity and higher in periods of prolonged solar
minima. There is also a similarity between the spectra
of these two series in the long-period range. Main
peaks are located in the same periods in both series
(200-215 yr, 100-105 yr, 80-90 yr). The influence of
volcanic activity on the climate is indubitable. Annual
means of surface air temperature display similar longterm
periodicity as the volcanic activity.
Conclusions:
The narrow similarity between solar and volcanic
activity in the long-term scale suggests two quite
different possible consequences:
a. Solar activity governs the volcanic activity on the
Earth in long-term scale. Volcanic activity is
usually higher in periods of prolonged minima of
solar activity and vice versa. However, the
mechanism of this forcing is not known. Perhaps
geomagnetic activity mediates solar influences
(unfortunately, series of these data are too short). If
it will be confirnled in the future, then solar
influences on the climate could be considered as
being mediated by the volcanic activity, creating
a chain: solar activity – (geomagnetic activity) –
volcanic activity – climate changes. Direct solar
influence on climatic changes is, of course, not
excluded. But it is difficult to distinguish what part
of these changes is mediated by volcanic activity
and what part is direct solar influence. It would be
also necessary to explain why this chain does not
work in short-term scale.
b. The similarity of the long-term course of solar and
volcanic activity is accidental and is pronounced
only in the last few centuries. Then long-term
natural climatic changes would be caused only by
long-term changes of volcanic activity. The role of
solar activity would be in this case only apparent
due to the accidentally sin1ilar course of both
activities during the last five centuries.
Nevertheless, some small direct solar influence is
not excluded. In this case no similarity in shortterm
scale can be expected and it is not necessary to
look for an explanation why it is not observed. These two different conclusions mean that the
investigation of solar, volcanic and climatic changes
together in a considerably longer period (at least one
millenium) is very desirable.

The correlation isn’t very significant, only 2 sigma. Though, I can think of several plausible mechanisms; magnetice field changes, cosmic ray changes,a combination.
We know certain CR ionize certain molecules in the atmosphere. I’d be suprized if there are not similar effects in other fluids which would affect pressures, circulation, and the compostion of emissions themselves.