Krakatoa volcano

An example of a physical explosion is the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in 1883. During this eruption a large quantity of molten lava spilled into the ocean causing about 1 cubic mile of sea water to vapourize. This rapid vaporization created a blast wave which could by heard up to 3000 miles away. 

First of all, volcanic activity must be mentioned it introduces both gases (see Section 2.3 and Subsection 3.6.2) and particles into the atmosphere. The particles play an important temporary role in the control of atmospheric optical properties and radiation balance. Thus, after the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883 unusual darkness was observed over Batavia and the height of the volcanic cloud reached the altitude of nearly 30 km (18 miles). After the violent eruption of the Agung volcano in 1963 the optical effect of ash particles was identified at several points of the Earth and a temperature increase of 2 C was measured in the stratosphere (see Cadle, 1973)due to the radiation absorption of particles. While an important part of volcanic particulate matter consists of dispersed lava, sulfuric acid also was detected in volcanic fume (Cadle, 1973). 

Krakatoa is still an active volcano. In recent years there has been enough seismic activity to make volcanologists (scientists who study volcanoes) believe that Krakatoa is due any time for another eruption, one that could rival the 1883 explosion in severity. 

During volcanic eruptions, sulfur-containing particulate matter may be spewed miles into the atmosphere and may take months or even years to eventually settle back down again. During that time, material from the volcano may travel hundreds or even thousands of miles and could encircle the globe. The particulate matter from Krakatoa s eruption formed a thin layer in the atmosphere that reflected sunlight and cooled Earth s surface for about two years following the eruption. 

The eruption of the volcano Krakatoa in Indonesia in 1883 provided some of the first evidence of global-scale transport of chemical substances, as the volcanic ash was transported around Earth and produced colorful sunrises and sunsets as well as globally lowered temperatures for more than a year. The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991 led to similar worldwide effects. More insidiously, the global presence of radioactive fallout from the nuclear bomb tests of the 1950s and 1960s illustrates the capacity of the atmosphere to distribute chemicals around... 

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