Magma volume, volatile emissions, and stratospheric aerosols from the 1815 eruption of Tambora

Self, S.; Gertisser, R.; Thordarson, T.; Rampino, M. R. and Wolff, J. A. (2004). Magma volume, volatile emissions, and stratospheric aerosols from the 1815 eruption of Tambora. Geophysical Research Letters, 31(20) L20608.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GL020925

Abstract

We suggest that the Tambora 1815 eruption was smaller than previously thought, yielding 30–33 km³ of magma. Valuable insight into the eruption is gained by comparing it to the much smaller 1991 Pinatubo event, which had a similar eruption style and rate. By measuring pre- and post-eruption sulfur concentrations in 1815 ejecta, we estimate that Tambora released 53–58 Tg (5.3–5.8 × 10¹³ g) of SO2 within a period of about 24 hours on 10–11 April, 1815. This was sufficient to generate between 93 and 118 Tg of stratospheric sulfate aerosols. A value within this range, distributed globally, agrees well with estimates of aerosol mass from ice-core acidity and the radiative impact of the eruption. In contrast to other recent explosive arc eruptions, the Tambora ejecta retain a record of the sulfur mass released, with no “excess sulfur”.

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