Massive Laki volcano eruption led to unusually cold winter in Europe, Rutgers-led study says

The Laki volcano in Iceland. It is not a typical mountain and its fissure to the right stretches into the distance. Photo: Alan Robock/Rutgers University-New Brunswick

'It turned out, to our surprise, that the warm summer was not caused by the eruption. Instead, it was just natural variability in the climate system. It would have been even warmer without the eruption. The cold winter would be expected after such an eruption.' – Professor Alan Robock