Big Blasts From the Past

Volcanic eruptions that changed history, science, and our world

- By Nick D'Alto

Volcanic eruptions can cause tragic loss of life, bring widespread destruction, and change the face of the Earth itself. They can also reshape our weather, shift the balance of power between nations, and rewrite history. If we look closely enough today, we can see evidence of these giant explosions and their aftermath in the most unlikely places. They can be found in famous stories and works of art, and even in items we use every day.

The five large eruptions described here made some of the most remarkable impacts of all. Using cutting-edge science and sifting through centuries of clues, modern-day experts have reconstructed these blasts from the past. Thanks to the insights they've gleaned, we can return to these incredible eruptions as they once were, minus the danger. We can better understand how volcanoes work and how they've reshaped our world. And we can learn how to help make people safer from them in the future.

1. The Stuff of Legend
Thera, the Aegean Sea, circa 1600 BCE, Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI): 6-7

This was one of the most powerful eruptions in recorded history. The volcano spewed an estimated 150 billion tons of ash and rock into the sky. It reshaped the island of Thera, or Santorini, into a horseshoe shape and generated tsunamis that struck the island of Crete and other nearby areas.

Gas and debris from the eruption grew so thick in the atmosphere that, according to modern analysis, a lot of incoming sunlight got reflected back into space. That's right, the volcano dimmed daylight in the region.