Tambora eruption

The largest known historic eruption, that of Tambora in 1815, yielded an estimated 60 Tg of sulfur to the stratosphere (based mostly on ice core sulfate deposition records reviewed by Oppenheimer (2003a)). This is 6 times the release of Pinatubo. Considerable efforts have been expended to quantify the climatic effects of this eruption, and have spanned investigations... 

Oppenheimer C. (2003a) Climatic, environmental, and human consequences of the largest known historic eruption Tambora volcano (Indonesia) 1815. Prog. Phys. Geogr. 

Aerosol particles resulting from the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo (Philippines) are widely cited in the recent atmospheric literature because of their global effects on atmospheric radiation and climate (Hansen et al., 1992 McCormick et al., 1995). However, volcanic eruptions occur every year, and some have been far larger than Pinatubo. For comparison, Krakatoa (1883 between Java and Sumatra, Indonesia) and Tambora (1815 Sumbawa, Indonesia), respectively, emitted double and ten times as much pyroclastic debris into the atmosphere as Pinatubo, and significantly reduced sunlight around the globe for months (Sparks et al., 1997). Their effects on the atmosphere have been profound. 

Some natural events also produce noxious gases and particles that can have a major effect on climate. e.g. large volcanic eruptions. When the volcano Tambora (Indonesia) erupted in 1815, the dust cloud in the upper atmosphere kept out sunlight from many places in the world, so that 1816 was known as the year without a summer . 

A growing body of data on Antarctic ice cores shows that the history of volcanic eruptions is resolvable year-by-year (38). The record includes dated explosive events such as Cerro Hudson in 1991, Pinatubo-1991, Agung-1963, Krakatoa-1883, Tambora-1815, and a 1259 AD eruption of unknown location. Analysis of the oxygen and sulfur isotope composition of aerosol particles frozen in the polar refrigerator provides a proxy of atmospheric chemistry applicable to early Earth. Aerosols from Cerro Hudson, the smallest of the explosive eruptions, have normal sulfur isotope compositions with no anomalous fractionation of (39). Cerro Hudson s eruption cloud did not break... 

Rampino, M. R. and S. Self (1982) Historic eruptions of Tambora (1815) Krakatau (1883) and Agung (1963) their stratospheric aerosols and climatic impact. Quaternary Research 18, 127-143... 

---