An eight month fissure eruption of Laki, or Lakagigar, and the adjoining Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland, from June 1783 to February 1784, that released about 14 cubic kilometers of basalt lava together with poisonous hydrofluoric acid and sulfur dioxide. The contamination killed over half of Iceland's livestock and destroyed most crops, and the resulting famine and the sulfurous haze that spread over Europe make it among the most consequential eruptions in recorded history for its climatic and humanitarian impact.
Facts
Event DateStart date of an eruption that continued to 7 February 1784. Magnitude or ScaleVolcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) 4; erupted about 14 cubic kilometers of basalt lava 1 LocationLaki (Lakagigar) fissure, Iceland 1 Disputed
Death TollAt least a fifth, by some estimates a quarter, of Iceland's population died in the resulting famine; an estimated 23,000 further deaths are linked to the sulfurous haze over Britain 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
In Discipline
The sulfurous haze that spread over Europe and the resulting famine are studied as a climate event.
Sources
1. Laki (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead sectionQuote, Lead section
It poured out an estimated 42 billion tonnes or 14 km3 of basalt lava, as well as clouds of poisonous hydrofluoric acid and sulfur dioxide.
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