Volcanic eruption led to the Black Death, new research suggests

Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes the plague, seen magnified by optical microscopy. BSIP/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

The Black Death — one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, estimated to have killed up to half of Europe’s population — might have been set in motion by a volcanic eruption, a new study suggests.

By looking at tree rings from across Europe to better understand 14th century climate, checking data against ice core samples from Antarctica and Greenland, and analyzing historical documents, researchers have constructed a “perfect storm” scenario that could explain the origin of the historic tragedy. They reported their findings Thursday in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.

The study authors believe an eruption occurred around 1345, ab