Volcanic Impacts on Climate

Could the volcanic eruption in Iceland make the weather cooler in the Stateline region? It's possible! Back in 1991, Mt. Pinatubo erupted in Asia and the entire upper Midwest had one of its cooler summers in memory the following year. Whether the Iceland volcano has the same type of impact depends on a variety of factors. First, the ash needs to get high enough into the stratosphere to sufficiently block incoming solar radiation. Secondly, it depends on how much sulfur is emitted (the more, the colder). And of course, it depends on how long the eruption continues. --TS