Ars Technica
Volcanoes that made history
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Several major volcanic eruptions have caused measurable changes to global climate and human societies. Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD and buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia killed approximately 36,000 people and produced atmospheric effects observed worldwide. The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia lowered global temperatures by an estimated 0.4 to 0.7 degrees Celsius, contributing to the "Year Without a Summer" in 1816.
Original reporting: https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/08/volcanoes-that-made-history/
