Evidence of the 1783 Laki eruption in light annual rings of larch from high latitudes of Siberia

The eruption of the Laki volcano in 1783 had a significant impact on climate, human society and biota of Europe. For the first time, the author analyzed data on adverse events of the summer period of 1783 based on changes in the anatomical structure of annual rings of larches growing in the high latitudes of Siberia. Cores of northern larches were collected at 32 sites along a 4000 km long forest-tundra transect. In 1783 tree rings with abnormal anatomical structure of latewood — so called light rings — were formed on the trees at almost every site. Based on the light rings, the author considered weather features of the vegetation period in the high latitudes of Siberia and identified areas with a similar distribution of adverse weather events. The obtained knowledge of the influence of large volcanic eruptions in Iceland on the climate of the Siberian forest tundra makes it possible to assess the potential effects of future similar large eruptions on the biota and human socio-economic activity in the high latitudes of Siberia.