Biology 1st Edition by Jerome Krueger, Kendra Hill, Robert Noyd

Exercise 2

Large-scale volcanic activity can influence climate patterns for years due to volcanic emission of huge quantities of gases and ash many miles into the atmosphere. Whereas greenhouse gases absorb solar energy, ash and certain volcanic gases reflect solar energy back into space. In 1815 Mount Tambora in Indonesia erupted, the largest eruption in the last 10,000 years. The climatic effects were rapid, causing an extremely cold spring and summer in 1816, known as "the year without a summer." New England and Europe were hit exceptionally hard with snow and frost in June, July, and August, which resulted in food shortages. Based on the relationship between greenhouse gases and climate, describe in your own words the influence of the gases and particles emitted during this eruption.