On April 10th, 1815, the sun disappeared as Mount Tambora, located in present-day Indonesia, erupted. The boom of the eruption could be heard over 2,000 kilometers away, and sulfurous plumes of steam and ash billowed thousands of meters into the sky, forming dark storm clouds of soot and lightning. This eruption is the largest in recorded history, and its impact was only just beginning. The emissions from Tambora ascended high into the atmosphere, spreading across the globe and blotting out the sun for almost an entire year. The hazy skies and cold weather of 1816 wreaked havoc on agriculture, leading to famines across the Northern Hemisphere. Nations struggled with epidemics, and artists crafted bleak tributes to these seemingly apocalyptic times. This was the year without summer—literally one of the darkest periods in human history.
While no one wants to replicate the famine and despair of the year without summer, some modern researchers are interested in using sulfurous haze to block out the sun, and hopefully, slow the effects of global warming. This is one of many proposals in the realm of geoengineering—a class of deliberate, large-scale interventions in Earth’s natural systems intended to help restrain climate change. Different geoengineering schemes intervene in different systems. Any plans to cool the planet by blocking the amount of sunlight reaching the earth would fall in the category of solar radiation management.
Some of these proposals are massive in scale, such as suggestions to create a helpful version of volcanic plumes or build a giant sunshade in Earth’s orbit. Others are more limited, focusing on enhancing natural cooling systems. For example, researchers might enlarge marine clouds or make Earth reflect more sunlight by building huge swaths of white surfaces. However, these cooling effects are global and fast-acting—but they’re also incredibly risky. The Earth is a chaotic system where even the smallest changes can create countless unpredictable ripple effects. We know that cooling temperatures impact precipitation, extreme weather, and other climate phenomena, but it’s difficult for even the most advanced computer models to predict how or where these consequences will occur.
One country’s solar radiation management might be another country’s unnatural disaster, causing extreme weather or crop failures like those following Tambora’s eruption. And even if these schemes did safely cool the planet, solar radiation management doesn’t address the greenhouse gases that are causing global warming. These solutions are just highly experimental band-aids that the world would have to endure for at least a few decades while we work on actually removing CO2 from the air. And if we pulled that band-aid off prematurely, global temperatures could rapidly rebound, causing a period of intense superwarming. For these reasons and more, solar radiation management is risky.
Today, researchers are running small-scale experiments, such as enhancing marine clouds to protect the Great Barrier Reef from further heating and bleaching. And most scientists agree that we should pursue ways to cut emissions and remove atmospheric CO2 first and foremost. However, there are reasons to keep studying these more aggressive approaches. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and in the future, geoengineering might be civilization’s last resort. Furthermore, some of these plans would be shockingly easy to execute by some rogue actor with enough cash. So we’ll want to be prepared if someone starts geoengineering without governmental approval.
Perhaps the most important reason to investigate the impacts of geoengineering is that people are already making large-scale interventions in the atmosphere. In many ways, climate change is an unintended geoengineering project fueled by the emissions generated from centuries of burning fossil fuels. And unless we take action to curb emissions and draw CO2 out of the atmosphere soon, summer may never be the same again.
Research the sequence of events surrounding the eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815 and its aftermath. Create a detailed timeline that includes key dates, the immediate impact of the eruption, and the long-term global effects. Use online resources and historical documents to gather accurate information. Present your timeline in a visually appealing format, such as a poster or digital presentation.
Divide into two groups and prepare for a debate on the topic: “Is geoengineering a viable solution to combat global warming?” One group will argue in favor of geoengineering, highlighting potential benefits and successful experiments. The other group will argue against it, focusing on the risks, ethical concerns, and potential unintended consequences. Use evidence from scientific studies and expert opinions to support your arguments.
Imagine you are a team of researchers tasked with designing a small-scale geoengineering experiment. Choose one of the proposed methods, such as enhancing marine clouds or creating reflective surfaces. Develop a detailed plan that includes the objectives, methodology, potential risks, and expected outcomes of your experiment. Present your plan to the class and discuss its feasibility and ethical implications.
Access historical climate data from the year 1816, known as the “Year Without Summer.” Analyze temperature, precipitation, and agricultural yield data from different regions affected by the eruption of Mount Tambora. Create graphs and charts to visualize the data and write a report summarizing your findings. Discuss how the volcanic eruption influenced global climate patterns and compare it to modern-day climate change scenarios.
Write a short story set in the year 1816, focusing on the experiences of individuals living through the “Year Without Summer.” Incorporate historical facts and details about the eruption of Mount Tambora and its effects on daily life. Alternatively, write a futuristic story exploring the potential consequences of a geoengineering project gone wrong. Share your story with the class and discuss the historical and scientific accuracy of your narrative.
eruption – a sudden and violent outburst of a volcano – The volcanic eruption sent a plume of ash and smoke into the sky.
sulfur – a yellow chemical element with a strong, choking odor – The rotten egg smell is caused by the presence of sulfur in the water.
ash – the powdery residue left after the combustion of a substance – The volcanic ash covered the entire town, making it difficult to breathe and see.
atmosphere – the envelope of gases surrounding the Earth or another planet – The Earth’s atmosphere protects us from harmful radiation and provides the oxygen we need to breathe.
global warming – the long-term increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to human activities – The burning of fossil fuels contributes to global warming and climate change.
geoengineering – the deliberate large-scale manipulation of Earth’s environment to counteract climate change – Geoengineering proposals include techniques to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
solar radiation management – the intentional modification of solar radiation to reduce the effects of global warming – Solar radiation management techniques aim to reflect sunlight back into space to cool the Earth.
climate change – long-term alterations in temperature and typical weather patterns due to human activities and natural processes – The melting of polar ice caps is one of the visible effects of climate change.
greenhouse gases – gases that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect – Carbon dioxide and methane are examples of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
experiments – activities conducted to gain knowledge or test hypotheses – Scientists are conducting experiments to study the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems.
