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Sarychev (volcano) sunset: Gorgeous as expected!
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Photo: Brian Whittaker / Canada
As expected, reports are filtering in of spectacular sunsets from the Sarychev volcanic eruption earlier in June. This picture is from Canada: keep an eye on the sky for potential over your back yard too!
The volcanic cloud reached upwards of 65,000 feet, penetrating well into the lower stratosphere. Here, the sulfur dioxide gas combines with water vapor to form a weak sulfuric acid solution. These droplets remain aloft for up to three years, producing a slight haze which reflects and refracts sunlight into amazing color schemes.
It may also cause a slight global cooling; data is incomplete on exactly how much sulfur dioxide was emitted; it generally takes at least one million tons of it in the stratosphere to have any significant effect.
In 1991, Mount Pintaubo in the Phillipines ejected 20 million tons upward; this caused a global cooling of two degrees for two years.
One of Texas’ coolest summers in 1992 was the result of this along with an active El Nino pattern.
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