Did the 73 ka Toba super-eruption have an enduring effect? Insights from genetics, prehistoric archaeology, pollen analysis, stable isotope geochemistry, geomorphology, ice cores, and climate models

Abstract

The potential impact of the ~73 ka Toba super-eruption upon global and regional climate, terrestrial ecosystems and prehistoric human populations remains unclear. Evidence from genetics, prehistoric archaeology, pollen analysis, stable isotope geochemistry, geomorphology, ice cores, and climate models has provided some useful working hypotheses. Further progress requires a substantial improvement in the accuracy, precision and resolution of the chronologies of each of the marine and terrestrial proxy records used to reconstruct the environmental impact of this extreme event. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA.