Volcanism and nuclear winter

Abstract

Are volcanic explosions valid analogues of nuclear detonations with respect to the effects which both phenomena may have on Earth's climate? This important question has figured prominently in the long-running debate over the merits of the ‘nuclear winter’ hypothesis. A review of its historical treatment within this context reveals that proponents of the nuclear winter theory relied on a very tenuous volcano/ climate relationship to lend credence to their model predictions of post-war climatic catastrophe.