Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. Volcanoes are among the most awe-inspiring forces of nature ...

In 1815, Mount Tambora experienced the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history. The eruption's effects altered Earth's climate for years and even led to the "year without summer" in 1816.

The 1815 eruption produced 60 megatons of sulfur, and as a result, average global temperatures dropped by around 3°C (5.4°F).

In April 1815, the eruption of Tambora Volcano in Indonesia — one of the largest in recorded history — blasted ash and gases into the atmosphere purportedly causing widespread cooling and crop failure ...

Mount Tambora changed the world. In 1815, the Indonesian volcano exploded in the most powerful eruption in recorded history, sending an enormous plume of tiny sun-reflecting particles high into the ...

Cataclysmic volcanic eruptions are rare — but inevitable. Governments should not only work to stem global warming, but also prepare for other extreme events with a planet-wide impact. The 1815 massive ...