Scientists Identify Volcano Behind 1831 Eruption That Caused Global Cooling
Researchers from the University of St Andrews pinpointed the Zavaritskii volcano on Simushir Island as the source of the catastrophic eruption nearly two centuries ago.
- The 1831 eruption caused global cooling of approximately 1°C, leading to famines and crop failures worldwide.
- Scientists matched microscopic ash particles from ice cores to the Zavaritskii volcano on the Kuril Islands, a disputed territory between Russia and Japan.
- The eruption, which occurred in the spring or summer of 1831, was highly explosive and formed a 3-kilometer-wide caldera on the uninhabited island of Simushir.
- The discovery was made possible through advanced chemical analysis of ash shards, which are smaller than a tenth of a human hair in diameter.
- The findings highlight the need for international coordination to prepare for potential future large-scale volcanic eruptions.
The Independent 
Evening Standard 