© University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Photo by Caspar Ammann
The large quantities of fine-grained materials thrust into the atmosphere by volcanic eruptions are of particular concern to climate. If an eruption has enough force to send particles into the stratosphere, they can remain there for several years and shield enough sunlight to lower global temperature measurably. Pictured: Lascar, a volcano located at Mina El Laco in northern Chile, erupted on April 19, 1993. Schools as far away as 120 miles (190 kilometers) were closed due to fallout from the eruption. This volcano did not affect average global temperature significantly.
