The 1991 Mount Pinatubo Eruption: A Causal Analysis of the Eruptions Effect on the Atmosphere

On June 15, 1991, Mount Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines. A large ash cloud was injected into the atmosphere and spread throughout the world. The introduction of the ash and chemicals caused many different atmospheric phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to do a causal analysis on how the eruption of Mount Pinatubo caused and affected atmospheric phenomenon. By researching articles written by scholars from across the world, information was compiled on major effects the eruption caused. The ash of the volcano affected the immediate area surrounding the volcano by interacting with the rain from Typhoon Yunya and creating a cement-like material causing structural failures to buildings. The ash also interacted with magmatic water to cause lightning in the ash plume. In addition, the aerosols released affected ozone levels in both hemispheres. The ozone level changes then effected both the precipitation amounts in the tropics as well as temperatures across the globe. The effects of the Mount Pinatubo eruption could also be seen visually across the globe due to the changes in sky coloring during sunrises and sunsets. By knowing how the Mount Pinatubo eruption affected the atmosphere on Earth, weather forecasters and climatologists will be better equipped to handle the aftermath of eruptions in their predictions.