Greatest recorded climactic impact of volcanic eruption
- Who
- The Tambora eruption of 1815
- What
- 3 degree(s) Celsius
- Where
- Indonesia (Tambora,)
- When
- 1815
The cataclysmic 1815 eruption of the Tambora volcano in Indonesia caused global average temperatures to drop by as much as 3 deg. C. (5.4 F) It led to 1816 being known as "the year without summer", with massive crop failures and other weather-related disruptions throughout Europe and North America.
Volcanic eruptions eject massive amounts of sulphur dioxide gas (SO2), which combines with water to form a sulphuric acid "mist" in the stratosphere. This mist is highly reflective and blocks sunlight from reaching the earth's surface, causing temperatures to fall.
As recently as June 1991, the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines resulted in global average temperatures dropping by as much as half a degree.
As recently as June 1991, the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines resulted in global average temperatures dropping by as much as half a degree.