The Tambora eruption in 1815 provides a test on possible global climatic and chemical perturbations in the past

Abstract

A coupled one-dimensional radiative-convective-photochemical diffusion model, which takes into account the influence of ocean inertia on global radiative perturbations is used to investigate the possible climatic and other atmospheric effects of a major volcanic eruption, thought to be similar in magnitude to that of the Tambora eruption, Indonesia, which took place in 1815. A volcanic cloud was introduced in the model stratosphere between 20-25 km and the global average peak aerosol optical thickness was assumed to be 0.25. Both the aerosol optical thickness and aerosol composition, which determine the optical properties, were allowed to vary in the model atmosphere during the life cycle of the volcanic cloud. The results indicate that the global average surface temperature decreases steadily from the date of eruption (7-12 April 1815) with maximum cooling of 1 ° K occurring in the spring of 1816. Tile calculations also show significant warming of the stratosphere, with temperature increasing up to 15 ° K at 25 km in less than six months after the date of eruption. The important effects of the Tambora eruption on stratospheric ozone and UV-B radiation at the surface are also mentioned.

Iberia in 1816, the year without a summer

“…There are different estimates of the temperature impact for the 1816 NH temperature anomaly associated with Tambora, ranging between −0.4 and −1.0°C (Stothers, 1984;Vupputuri, 1992;Oppenheimer, 2003). These hemispheric analyses are non-representative of the actual anomalies occurring at the more regional scale of Europe.…”

Responses of large volcanic eruptions in the instrumental and documentary climatic data over Central Europe

“…The subsequent year 1816 was characterized as 'the year without a summer' (see e.g. Stommel and Stommel, 1983;Harington, 1992;Vupputuri, 1992;Oppenheimer, 2003). Cooler periods shown in the first and second post-eruption years in the Central European temperature series were interrupted by warming in the first winter after the eruption ( Figure 5).…”

“…Many papers have dealt with some outstanding events such as the historically largest known eruption of Tambora (Indonesia) in 1815 (see e.g. Stommel and Stommel, 1983;Stothers, 1984;Harington, 1992;Vupputuri, 1992;Oppenheimer, 2003) or the Laki (Lakagígar) eruption (Iceland) in 1783 with many consequences in Europe (see e.g. Wood, 1992;Stothers, 1996;Demarée et al, 1998;Grattan and Pyatt, 1999;Grattan and Sadler, 1999;Demarée and Ogilvie, 2001;Brázdil et al, 2003).…”

Climatic effects and impacts of the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora in the Czech Lands

“…Literature addressing volcanic effects on precipitation is more sparse (Gillett et al, 2004). For example, Wegmann et al (2014) analysed 14 tropical eruptions and found an increase of summer precipitation in southcentral Europe and a reduction of the Asian and African summer monsoons in first post-eruption years. Weaker monsoon circulations attenuate the northern element of the Hadley cell and influence atmospheric circulation over the AtlanticEuropean sector, contributing to higher precipitation totals.…”

“…The subsequent year of 1816 has been termed the "Year Without a Summer" (see e.g. Stommel and Stommel, 1983;Stothers, 1984;Vupputuri, 1992;Habegger, 1997;Oppenheimer, 2003;Bodenmann et al, 2011;Klingaman and Klingaman, 2013;Brugnara et al, 2015;Luterbacher and Pfister, 2015). Kužić (2007) investigated the effects in Croatia of an unidentified eruption in 1809 and the 1815 Tambora event.…”