A sediment core study of the Laacher See volcano found that its eruption around 13,000 years ago preceded an ancient cold spell by about 150 years, reversing the previously assumed order.

What it means

A new sediment-core study of the Laacher See volcano in Germany shows that its eruption around 13,000 years ago occurred about 150 years before the onset of the Younger Dryas cold spell, not after it as previously assumed. This reverses the long-held idea that the eruption triggered or immediately preceded the abrupt cooling, instead suggesting the two events were not causally linked in that way.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is based on a peer-reviewed study analyzing sediment cores from the Laacher See, reported by Phys.org, a reputable secondary source. The primary source is the original research paper, which provides direct radiometric dating evidence; the reporting closely reflects the study's findings and is solid.

How new