Sahel Droughts Induced by Large Volcanic Eruptions Over the Last Millennium in PMIP4/Past1000 Simulations

Abstract

This work provides evidence of the influence of large volcanic eruptions on Sahel rainfall relying on PMIP4/past1000 multi-model simulations, covering the last millennium. A classification of volcanic eruptions in the last millennium according to the meridional symmetry of the associated radiative forcing reveals different mechanisms of the West African Monsoon response at inter-annual timescale. In all cases, these simulated changes result in Sahel drying up to 2 years after an eruption. Besides, we add evidence of a role of varying volcanic activity across the past millennium in the Sahel precipitation variability at multi-decadal to secular timescales.