History in Ice: Plagues, Wars, Politics and Human Health

Aerosol records from ice cores provide unique insights into how natural and human-driven changes have shaped the Earth’s environment over centuries to millennia. By accurately dating these aerosols—originating from sources such as sea spray, dust, volcanic eruptions, biomass burning, and, more recently, industrial activities—we can assess the timing and extent of these transformations. Here, we combine new analytical advances, polar and alpine ice core arrays, atmospheric transport models, and epidemiological findings to critically evaluate how events like volcanism, plague, and early industrialization have impacted economies, politics, and human health.