Articles | Volume 24, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2415-2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2415-2024
Research article
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26 Feb 2024
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 26 Feb 2024

Explaining the green volcanic sunsets after the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa

Christian von Savigny, Anna Lange, Christoph G. Hoffmann, and Alexei Rozanov

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Cited articles

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Crowley, T. J. and Unterman, M. B.: Technical details concerning development of a 1200 yr proxy index for global volcanism, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 5, 187–197, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-5-187-2013, 2013. a
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The Royal Society report on the Krakatoa eruption included some marvelous paintings of extraordinary and highly unusual green sunsets. This article provides a novel explanation employing a detailed physical model that emphasizes the necessity for large sizes and amounts of aerosols.
Short summary
It is well known that volcanic eruptions strongly affect the colours of the twilight sky. Typically, volcanic eruptions lead to enhanced reddish and violet twilight colours. In rare cases, however, volcanic eruptions can also lead to green sunsets. This study provides an explanation for the occurrence of these unusual green sunsets based on simulations with a radiative transfer model. Green volcanic sunsets require a sufficient stratospheric aerosol optical depth and specific aerosol sizes.
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