The “Year Without a Summer” was a time in the year 1816 when people struggled to survive severe climate abnormalities. Climate back then changed dramatically as global temperatures decreased by about 0.4-0.7° C. In addition, huge amounts of food were wiped out across the Northern Hemisphere. Scientists believe that below average solar activity and volcanic winter events were the cause.
The strange climate activity had the greatest effect on the northeastern United States, Atlantic Canada, and oarts of western Europe. In the spring and summer oif 1816, a continual dry fog was observed in the northeastern United States. The fog reddened and dimmed the sunlight. Rainfall nor wind discrete the fog. Signs of frost frost started in Connecticut, by the next day New England was affected by the cold front. Cool temperatures and heavy rain fall resulted in failed harvests in the British Isles as well. Families in Whales traveled vast distances as refugees, begging for food. Famine struck major countries such as Germany and China. In Germany, crops were destroyed and caused food prices to rise sharply. In China, the cold front killed trees, rice crops, and water buffalo as well. Crops were destroyed by severe floods. In New York, temperatures dropped to at least -32 C during the winter. The freezing affected the New York’s upper bay so badly that horse sleighs were able to drive across Buttermilk Channel to Governors Island.
The cause is believed to be from the Mount Tamboa eruption on the island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. The eruption had a volcanic explositivity index of 7. After the massive eruption, temperatures fell globally because less sunlight passed through the atmosphere.