On 10 April, 1815, the Tambora volcano in Indonesia produced the largest eruption in recorded history. An estimated 150 cubic kilometres of tephra (exploded rock and ash) resulted, with ash from the eruption seen at least 1,300km away to the north-west. Enough ash was released into the atmosphere from the eruption to reduce sunlight, resulting in global cooling and an 1816 that saw no summer. The huge caldera, 6km in diameter and 1,100m deep, formed when Tambora's estimated 4000m-high peak was blew off and the magma chamber below emptied
Photograph: ISS/NASA
The Guardian
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