Some Cases Examples of Volcanic Eruptions Which Have Affected Climate Change The effect of volcanoes on the climate has been apparent for centuries. In the 1780’s Benjamin Franklin suggested that “dry fog” from a volcanic island in Iceland erupted and resulted in unusually cold weather. Etna in Italy erupted in 1650 and caused about 40 deaths. Some were caused by opthalmias from sulphurous vapours and suffocation. The crew of a ship suffocated as it passed the volcano. Below is an Aerial Photograph Showing the Location of Mount Etna in Red and the top Right of the Main Island in the Centre of the Picture (Sicily)..

Laki, the Icelandic volcano erupted in The following winter was 4.8 degrees Celsius below the 225 year average temperature. The eruption was the largest basalt lava eruption in historical times. Thirty years later,in 1815, Mt. Tambora erupted. It is an Indonesian volcano and is famously known for causing the “year without a summer.” It is believed to be the largest volcanic eruption in the last 10 thousand years. Snow fall and frost occurred in the summer months and all grains were destroyed. This then led on to the slaughter of animals because of the cost of feeding them and hunger.

The Diagram Below Illustrates The Island of Krakatoa Before Explosion of the Volcano of the Same Name:

Another Indonesian volcano erupted in the 1800s. Kratatau erupted in 1815 but memorably in August of This was the second largest eruption in history. Twenty times stronger than the famous eruption of Mt. St. Helens. The eruption caused cold weather, brilliant sunsets and prolonged twilights. Mount Hudson erupted in 1891, 1971 and It lies in the stretch of the southern Andes. Mt. St. Helens erupted in 1980 and first gave volcanists important scientific data on the physical processes involved in a volcanic eruption. A quater of this mountain was blown apart and 600 kms squared of forest was destroyed. However there was little change in the climate. Nevertheless in 1982, El Chichon in Mexico caused the world climate to drop by 0.3 degrees Celsius.

The vivid red sky in Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream" was inspired by the vibrant twilights in Norway, his native land.This Diagram is Taken From the Very Useful Website of: Volcanic eruptions have also been the subject of art. The painting, “The Scream” by artist Edvard Munch in 1893 was inspired by the 1892 Awu (Indonesia) volcanic eruption.