THE ONLY QUESTION THE GLOBAL WARMING CROWD HAS...:

How an Icelandic volcano helped spark the French Revolution: Profound effects of eight-month eruption in 1783 caused chaos from US to Egypt, say experts (Greg Neale, 4/20/10, guardian.co.uk)

Just over 200 years ago an Icelandic volcano erupted with catastrophic consequences for weather, agriculture and transport across the northern hemisphere – and helped trigger the French revolution.

The Laki volcanic fissure in southern Iceland erupted over an eight-month period from 8 June 1783 to February 1784, spewing lava and poisonous gases that devastated the island's agriculture, killing much of the livestock. It is estimated that perhaps a quarter of Iceland's population died through the ensuing famine.

Then, as now, there were more wide-ranging impacts. In Norway, the Netherlands, the British Isles, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, in North America and even Egypt, the Laki eruption had its consequences, as the haze of dust and sulphur particles thrown up by the volcano was carried over much of the northern hemisphere. [...]

The disruption to weather patterns meant the ensuing winter was unusually harsh, with consequent spring flooding claiming more lives. In America the Mississippi reportedly froze at New Orleans.

...is: how did man cause the eruption?

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 21, 2010 5:26 AM