Hey there! Fun fact for you: almost 200 years ago, the Sun actually changed color, leading to two years of cooler weather worldwide. This mysterious event, known as the “mystery eruption,” happened between 1831 and 1833, causing the Earth to cool by about 1°C.

During this time, the famous composer Felix Mendelssohn noticed some strange weather while traveling through the Alps. He described the landscape as desolate, with deep snow covering the hills. Reports from all over the world, including China, Europe, the US, and the Caribbean, mentioned the Sun appearing in unusual colors like blue, purple, and green. This was caused by volcanic dust and gases scattering sunlight in a unique way.

While many speculated that the eruption came from volcanoes in the Philippines or near Sicily, new research has pinpointed the Zavaritskii caldera on the uninhabited island of Simushir in the Russian Far East as the source. Scientists at the University of St Andrews in Scotland used geochemical analysis of ice-core samples to link the ash deposits to the eruption in 1831.

This discovery underscores the significant impact that volcanic eruptions can have on our climate. They release gases and particulates into the atmosphere, causing short-term cooling effects and potentially contributing to long-term warming. For example, the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines led to a global temperature drop of 0.5°C for several years.

Dr. Will Hutchison, the lead researcher of the study, stressed the importance of being prepared for future large-scale eruptions and coordinating an international response. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, sheds light on the power of volcanoes and their potential to influence life on Earth. So, next time you see a volcano erupting, remember the impact it can have on our planet!