Volcanoes, Bicycles, and Monsters: The Year Without a Summer

In our episode "Volcanoes, Bicycles, and Monsters: The Year Without a Summer," we learned how a massive volcanic eruption changed the world, creating a year with no summer! Let's explore how tiny particles can have a big impact.

The Big Question

How can tiny bits of dust and ash in the air make the whole world colder?

What You'll Need

• A clear glass jar or cup
• Water
• Soil or dark-colored sand (just a small amount)
• A spoon or stick

Mission Steps

1. Add the "Ash". Put a small spoonful of soil or dark sand into the bottom of your jar. This will be like the ash from a volcano.
2. Fill with Water. Carefully fill the jar most of the way with water.
3. Stir It Up. Use your spoon or stick to stir the soil and water together, making it nice and cloudy.
4. Let It Settle. Place the jar in a sunny spot and observe what happens over the next hour or two.

Talk About It

• What happened to the water after you stirred it?
• What do you think the tiny soil particles floating in the water represent?
• How might those particles floating in the air after a volcano eruption affect how much sunlight reaches the ground?

Take It Further

For older rangers, research other historical volcanic eruptions and their effects on climate. Were there any other "volcanic winters" in history? How do scientists study these past events?

FAQ

Q: What if I don't have soil or dark sand? A: You can use a tiny bit of dark food coloring (just one drop!) to make the water cloudy, but soil/sand better represents the actual ash particles. Q: Do I need to leave the jar in the sun? A: Observing the water in the sun helps, but the main point is seeing how the particles float and eventually settle. Q: Is this like the real volcano eruption? A: This is a simple model. Real volcanic ash goes high into the atmosphere and spreads around the globe, blocking sunlight for a much longer time.