Mount Mirapi, in Indonesia, has been erupting since October 25 of this year. As far as eruptions go, it is, so far, a tiny one. It has the potential, as do almost all volcanos of this type, to continue to erupt and escalate into a truly massive eruption with the potential ability to affect world climate.
The largest eruption ever recorded (since humans have been recording such things) was the 1815 eruption of Mt. Tambora, in Indonesia. The resulting "Volcanic Winter" caused massive climate change leading to drought and famine. As estimated 200,000 people starved to death in Europe in the following winter due to effects from this eruption.
"On April 10, 1815, Tambora Volcano produced the largest eruption in recorded history. An estimated 150 cubic kilometers (36 cubic miles) of tephra (exploded rock and ash) resulted, with ash from the eruption recognized at least 1,300 kilometers (808 miles) away to the northwest... Enough ash was put into the atmosphere from the April 10 eruption to reduce incident sunlight on the Earth’s surface, causing global cooling, which resulted in the 1816 “year without a summer.”
Take a look at these pictures from the Mt. Merapi eruption. Warning: graphic content.
Mount Merapi's eruptions - The Big Picture - Boston.com
Can you identify other historically significant volcanic eruptions and mention a few of their effects?
The largest eruption ever recorded (since humans have been recording such things) was the 1815 eruption of Mt. Tambora, in Indonesia. The resulting "Volcanic Winter" caused massive climate change leading to drought and famine. As estimated 200,000 people starved to death in Europe in the following winter due to effects from this eruption.
"On April 10, 1815, Tambora Volcano produced the largest eruption in recorded history. An estimated 150 cubic kilometers (36 cubic miles) of tephra (exploded rock and ash) resulted, with ash from the eruption recognized at least 1,300 kilometers (808 miles) away to the northwest... Enough ash was put into the atmosphere from the April 10 eruption to reduce incident sunlight on the Earth’s surface, causing global cooling, which resulted in the 1816 “year without a summer.”
Take a look at these pictures from the Mt. Merapi eruption. Warning: graphic content.
Mount Merapi's eruptions - The Big Picture - Boston.com
Can you identify other historically significant volcanic eruptions and mention a few of their effects?