We have written how volcanoes and climate are in a deadly embrace, where they could spiral out of control together. As we write, the alert level for Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano is at the second-highest level possible. The volcano erupted again last week. This caused a landslide into the ocean that generated vast waves and killed at least 430 people.
How Anak Krakatau Is the Vent of Krakatoa
Those three islands around Anak Krakatau are the remains of a mighty volcano named Krakatoa. This had laid dormant in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra until it exploded cataclysmically in 1883.
After a series of minor explosions, the original island literally ‘blew its top’ and almost obliterated itself. Perth, Australia 1,930 miles distant heard this happening, as did those on an island near Mauritius, 3,000 miles away. Volcanic ash shot 50 miles into the atmosphere where it lingered a year. Barographs recorded a wave traveling around the globe seven times over four days.
How Krakatoa Effected Temporary Climate Change
The vent that is now Anak Krakatau lowered global temperatures by as much as 1.2 degrees celsius in the year following the eruption. Some 120,000 souls perished as it blocked out the sun. Skeletons on beds of pumice floated across to East Africa for a year. Krakatoa fell silent, but not forever.
In 1927, a new island pushed up out of the ocean within the ring of flanks of the old volcano. Scientists watched while Anak Krakatau emerged from the old caldera, and grew steadily as it produced more lava flows than waves could wash away.
It grew at a rate of 22 feet per year, before going dormant. The latest round of eruptions began in 2008. Hence the current flank collapse is merely a milestone heading who knows where. We should not talk lightly of climate change melting glaciers, and exposing dormant volcanoes elsewhere.
Climate is not in the minds of scientists. It is here for those who care to look, listen, and learn.
Related
Climate and Volcanoes in Deadly Embrace
Will Bouvet Island Reveal Climate Secrets?
Preview Image: Remains of Krakatau Volcano
