This image was retrieved from the New York Times article "A Volcanic Eruption that Reverberates 200 Years Later." This is a recent image of the crater left in Mount Tambora after the volcanic eruption of 1815.
The eruption of the Mount Tambora in 1815 was the most violent and dangerous volcanic eruption ever recorded. Mount Tambora is a stratovolcano located on the southeastern Indonesian island of Sumbawa that reached peaks of around 14,100 feet before its eruption. (NESDIS, 2020). This was considered one of the tallest Indonesian mountains before its eruption beginning on April 5, 1815 and dangerously exploding on April 10, 1815 (NESDIS, 2020). Upon explosion, approximately 160 cubic kilometers of pyroclastic fragments and ash were sent into the atmosphere (Reid, 2015). This volcanic material and ash was carried by winds and ultimately infiltrated the Indonesian land and waters. Around 11,000 people were killed directly by pyroclastic flows and another 100,000 people died from resulting famine and diseases (Reid, 2015).
The overwhelming amounts of pyroclastic material covering the land and in the air brought many issues for Indonesian farmers and cropland. The year following the eruption of Mount Tambora was known as "the year without a summer" (Tambora Indonesia 1815, 2022). Particulate matter and dust in the atmosphere caused changes in climate and precipitation patterns. Temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere were reduced by one degree Fahrenheit which resulted in increased snow and winter weather during the summer and growing seasons (NESDIS, 2020).
This image was retrieved from the "Mount Tambora" Wikipedia page. This shows the location of Mt Tambora in relation to the Indonesian Islands and the extent of ash infiltration into the surrounding islands of Borneo, Java, and Sulawesi.
The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora caused nearly total destruction of the island of Sumbawa and surrounding parts of the Indonesian islands. However, the effects were not only felt in Indonesia. This volcanic eruption impacted many parts of the world. Crop failures were seen in North America while harmful diseases traveled throughout Europe (Evans, 2002). While the direct effects from this volcanic eruption were detrimental, indirect and after effects also added to its destruction.
The effects of the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora were exacerbated due to very little warning beforehand. This volcano was dormant for more than 1,000 years and first started showing signs of dangerous activity in 1812 (Oskin, 2015). With any warning it all, it would have still been incredibly difficult to tell how dangerous and violent an explosion would be. According to the volcanic hazard report by the United Nations, there is a 30 percent chance that an eruption on the same scale as Mount Tambora will happen during this century (Oskin, 2015). While a dangerous volcanic eruption can happen anywhere there is an active volcano, Indonesia stays at high risk for a deadly and destructive eruption. Indonesia is followed by the Philippines, Japan, Mexico, and several other vulnerable countries (Oskin, 2015).
This image was retrieved from the "1815 eruption of Mount Tambora" Wikipedia page but is accredited to the NASA-Johnson Space Center Image Science and Analysis Laboratory. This shows infrared imaging taken from the space shuttle Endeavour in 1992. This shows great detail of the caldera crater that was formed after the eruption in 1815 along with the green vegetation surrounding the volcano.
This is a very informative video that addresses exactly how the Mount Tambora volcano formed overtime and why the particular explosion of 1815 was so dangerous. This video also addresses the less destructive volcanic activity that has taken place since and ensures residents of this area that due to its physical changes, Mount Tambora is much less dangerous now than it was before the eruption of 1815.
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