Special treat: An Eruption Cam

CanisLupusArctos · 06-20-2008, 02:12 PM

You're welcome. Plus I figured how so many of us love watching the lake cams, this one is probably one of the most interesting in the world at the moment.

I should emphasize that IF this volcano's eruption reaches a world-class grand finale, the effects on our next two-three years' weather around the world (including here) would go beyond thicker Winnipesaukee lake ice.

Steveo, you're basically right. The S02 content from a volcanic eruption mixes with water vapor (humidity) in the air to form microscopic sulfuric acid droplets. If that takes place at extremely high altitude and with enough volume of S02, it circles the world and takes 2-3 years to get out of the atmosphere. The sulfuric acid droplets reflect sunlight back into space. Down here, they make really nice sunrises and sunsets. I have a nice collection of Pinatubo Sunsets and Sunrises in my photo archive, as do many other people.

For effects of past eruptions, Google the following:

"Mt Pinatubo 1991 effect on climate"

"New England Year without a summer 1815"
(this came from Mt. Tambora, the most extreme climate-altering eruption of modern times.)

Then, imagine either one of those scenarios entering the mix of everything else we're seeing in the nightly headlines right now.

Of course, Chaiten could decide to settle right back down and go to sleep for another 7,000+ years. No one knows.

06-20-2008, 02:12 PM	#4
CanisLupusArctos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,049 Thanks: 15 Thanked 472 Times in 107 Posts	You're welcome. Plus I figured how so many of us love watching the lake cams, this one is probably one of the most interesting in the world at the moment. I should emphasize that IF this volcano's eruption reaches a world-class grand finale, the effects on our next two-three years' weather around the world (including here) would go beyond thicker Winnipesaukee lake ice. Steveo, you're basically right. The S02 content from a volcanic eruption mixes with water vapor (humidity) in the air to form microscopic sulfuric acid droplets. If that takes place at extremely high altitude and with enough volume of S02, it circles the world and takes 2-3 years to get out of the atmosphere. The sulfuric acid droplets reflect sunlight back into space. Down here, they make really nice sunrises and sunsets. I have a nice collection of Pinatubo Sunsets and Sunrises in my photo archive, as do many other people. For effects of past eruptions, Google the following: "Mt Pinatubo 1991 effect on climate" "New England Year without a summer 1815" (this came from Mt. Tambora, the most extreme climate-altering eruption of modern times.) Then, imagine either one of those scenarios entering the mix of everything else we're seeing in the nightly headlines right now. Of course, Chaiten could decide to settle right back down and go to sleep for another 7,000+ years. No one knows.