The Year Without a Summer, Part One

Welcome to Celebrate Poe - This is Episode 330 - The Year Without a Summer, Part One - the 1815 explosion of Mount Tambora would have been much longer, and much louder, and become an ecological terror.

Now, In the past few episodes, Poe has delved into Ivan the Terrible and Vlad the Impaler - two historical figures, whether by sensibility or mythology, have played a role in the development of Poe’s approach to subject matter for writing - but an event occurred in 1815 that changed everything - an weather event that inspired literary works such as Lord Byron’s poem Darkness and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818), reflecting themes of despair influenced by environmental catastrophe.

Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.

Transcript

Welcome to Celebrate Poe - This is Episode 330 - The Year Without a Summer, Part One - the 1815 explosion of Mount Tambora would have been much longer, and much louder, and become an ecological terror.

Now, In the past few episodes, Poe has delved into Ivan the Terrible and Vlad the Impaler - two historical figures, whether by sensibility or mythology, have played a role in the development of Poe’s approach to subject matter for writing - but an event occurred in 1815 that changed everything - an weather event that inspired literary works such as Lord Byron’s poem Darkness and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818), reflecting themes of despair influenced by environmental catastrophe.
 
The eruption of Mount Tambora on April 10, 1815, was the most powerful volcanic event in recorded history, with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 7. Located on the island of Sumbawa in present-day Indonesia, the eruption had catastrophic local and global consequences, including the "Year Without a Summer" in 1816.  It seems that this volcanic explosion affected almost everything, including literature.

But first, it might be helpful to lookout the eruption itself - Mount Tambora's eruption was so massive that it removed almost 5,000 feet from the mountain's summit. The eruption volcanic flows that destroyed nearby villages, buried the village of Tambora under approximately 10 feet of volcanic material, and caused tsunamis up to 13 feet high that struck the surrounding islands. The eruption directly killed an estimated 10,000–11,000 people.

Not surprisingly, the volcanic ash and gases released into the stratosphere had far-reaching effects on global climate. Sulfur dioxide  formed sulfate aerosols that reflected sunlight and caused a significant drop in temperatures worldwide. This led to what is now known as a "volcanic winter." 

The climatic disruptions caused by Tambora's eruption were most evident in 1816, referred to as the "Year Without a Summer.”  For example, frosts occurred during every month in New England, with snow falling even in June. Crops failed across Europe and North America due to unseasonably cold weather and shortened growing seasons. Food shortages led to widespread famine and social unrest, including riots in Europe
The eruption and its aftermath caused an estimated total death toll of 49,000–90,000 people. Many deaths resulted from famine and disease outbreaks exacerbated by crop failures and contaminated water supplies following the eruption. The cooling effects persisted for several years, with the decade of the 1810s becoming one of the coldest on record.

While those living near Tambora were acutely aware of the eruption's immediate devastation, its connection to global climatic anomalies was not well understood in Europe or North America at the time. In other words, they didn’t know what the hell was happening. Scientific knowledge about atmospheric processes was limited, and it wasn't until much later that researchers linked volcanic eruptions to climate effects using geological evidence such as ice cores and tree rings.

Mount Tambora's eruption remains a key case study in understanding the interplay between volcanic activity and climate change. It serves as a stark reminder of how natural events can have profound and far-reaching impacts on human societies on the other side of the planet.

Not surprisingly, the eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815 had profound effects on global weather patterns, primarily due to the enormous amount of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and volcanic ash it released into the atmosphere. These emissions formed sulfate aerosols in the stratosphere, which reflected sunlight and caused significant cooling of the Earth's surface. This led to a "volcanic winter," with widespread climatic disruptions that persisted for years.

Global precipitation decreased due to a slowdown in the water cycle caused by reduced surface temperatures. Regions such as South Asia experienced significant drying, while some areas in Europe saw increased summer precipitation due to atmospheric circulation shifts.

Not surprisingly, the eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815 had profound and wide-ranging effects on global climate, weather patterns, and the hydrological cycle.  The cooling effect was most pronounced in the Northern Hemisphere, where land-dominated regions such as Europe and North America experienced extreme weather anomalies.

The cooling caused by Tambora disrupted the global water cycle:
Global precipitation decreased due to reduced evaporation rates caused by cooler sea surface temperatures. This slowdown particularly affected tropical rainforest regions and monsoon systems.

The Northern Hemisphere experienced more pronounced cooling and weather disruptions compared to the Southern Hemisphere. Land-dominated areas cooled significantly due to lower heat capacity and greater aerosol deposition. This resulted in harsher winters, reduced growing seasons, and widespread agricultural failures.

Now the cooling effect caused by the eruption of Mount Tambour intensifying winters in the Northern Hemisphere. For example, the winter of 1815–1816 was particularly harsh in Europe and North America.

The summer of 1816 was marked by unseasonably cold temperatures, with frost and snow occurring in June and July in parts of New England and Europe. This shortened growing seasons and devastated crops globally.
The eruption weakened monsoon systems in South Asia and Southeast Asia, causing droughts followed by excessive rainfall, which disrupted agricultural cycles.

The eruption had severe economic consequences due to crop failures, food shortages, and disrupted trade. For example, crop failures led to skyrocketing food prices worldwide. For instance, grain prices soared in Europe and North America as harvests failed due to frost and lack of sunlight. Food shortages caused widespread famine in regions like India, China, Europe, and North America. In Indonesia, rice production was severely affected for years after the eruption.

The volcanic winter reduced agricultural productivity globally, affecting the export of vital commodities like wheat and rice. This led to economic instability in regions dependent on agricultural trade.

The economic strain contributed to financial instability in Europe and North America. For example, falling wheat prices after 1817 caused a collapse in land values and contributed to economic depressions.

The climatic disruptions caused by the Tambora eruption also played a significant role in the spread of diseases. Abnormal monsoon patterns in South Asia created conditions for the emergence of a new strain of cholera in Bengal. This outbreak became the first global cholera pandemic, spreading across Asia and beyond, killing millions.

In Europe, famine-induced malnutrition and overcrowding facilitated the spread of typhus between 1816–1819, infecting over 2.5 million people and killing tens of thousands.

In regions near Tambora, ash-contaminated water led to outbreaks of diarrheal diseases that killed both humans and animals.

The eruption had profound cultural and societal consequences across different regions. Famine drove large-scale migrations from Europe to North America. However, migrants arriving in New England faced similar crop failures due to extreme weather.

Food shortages triggered riots across Europe as governments struggled to address widespread hunger. This period saw increased pressure on states to improve administrative functions for disaster response. 

The eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815 definitely caused widespread agricultural collapse due to global cooling and disrupted weather patterns.

The "Year Without a Summer" (1816) brought frosts, snow, and unseasonably cold temperatures during the growing season in Europe, North America, and Asia. Crops like wheat, maize, and rice failed across vast regions, leading to food shortages and famine. The Allan family would have been in Europe at the time, and I am sure that they knew something was wrong - but without international communications, they would have little way of knowing what was happening on the other side of the planet.

Grain prices soared globally due to reduced supply. For instance, wheat prices in Europe nearly doubled.



The health consequences were severe, particularly for communities near the eruption: Toxic gases and ash caused respiratory illnesses and contaminated water supplies. Many people suffered from diarrhea linked to ash-laden water.

Malnutrition from crop failures led to outbreaks of diseases like typhus and cholera. In Bengal, disruptions to the monsoon contributed to the mutation of cholera into a more virulent strain that spread globally.

Survivors faced chronic health issues due to prolonged exposure to ash and poor living conditions during famines.

The Tambora eruption indirectly advanced meteorology by highlighting the need for better understanding of atmospheric phenomena. And the event spurred interest in studying volcanic impacts on climate, leading to early theories about atmospheric circulation. 

Climate models now incorporate lessons from Tambora to simulate volcanic effects on weather systems. This has improved predictions of how future eruptions might influence global climate.

The Mount Tambora eruption had catastrophic short-term effects on agriculture, health, and ecosystems while leaving long-term environmental legacies such as global cooling and altered carbon cycles. It also underscored the interconnectedness of natural disasters with societal vulnerabilities, inspiring advancements in climate science that continue to inform modern weather forecasting techniques.

But there was one good thing that came directly out of Mount Tamboro’s eruption that basically has nothing to do with weather. 

The climatic disruptions caused by the volcanic winter created an environment that directly and indirectly inspired some of the most iconic works of the Romantic and Gothic literary traditions.

The gloomy and stormy weather in Europe during the summer of 1816 forced Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and John William Polidori to remain indoors at Villa Diodati near Lake Geneva. To pass the time, Byron proposed a ghost story competition, leading Mary Shelley to conceive Frankenstein. The novel reflects themes of displacement and suffering, which some scholars link to the humanitarian crises caused by Tambora's eruption, such as mass migrations and famine. The monster in Frankenstein has been interpreted as a symbol of "displaced humanity," mirroring the social upheaval of the time.

Lord Byron was also inspired by the bleak atmosphere of 1816 to write his apocalyptic poem Darkness. The poem vividly describes a world where "the bright sun was extinguished," reflecting the literal dimming of sunlight caused by Tambora's volcanic aerosols. It captures the despair and fear that pervaded society during this period of climate-induced chaos.  Darkness is a very powerful poem, and I am planning to include Darkness in a future podcast.

During the same gathering at Villa Diodati, John Polidori wrote The Vampyre, which is considered one of the first modern vampire stories. This work laid the foundation for later Gothic vampire fiction, including Bram Stoker's Dracula. The dark and stormy setting of 1816 likely contributed to its eerie tone.

The harsh weather and desolate landscapes most likely influenced Romantic poets like Percy Shelley and painters such as Caspar David Friedrich, whose works often depicted dramatic natural scenes reflecting human emotion.

While not directly inspired by Tambora, Jane Austen's letters from 1816 express frustration with the unseasonably bad weather, which coincided with personal struggles and declining health. Scholars have speculated that this period may have influenced her later works.

The eruption helped solidify Gothic horror as a genre in general by fostering an atmosphere of dread and uncertainty. Writers drew on themes of darkness, nature's power, and human vulnerability, which were accentuated by Tambora's global effects.

The eruption of Mount Tambora profoundly shaped literature by creating conditions that fostered introspection, creativity, and an exploration of dark themes. Works like Frankenstein, Darkness, and The Vampyre are enduring legacies of this period, blending ecological catastrophe with artistic expression to capture both personal and societal anxieties. These creations remain cornerstones of Romantic and Gothic literature today.

Tambora’s eruption also influenced visual art:

J.M.W. Turner: The atmospheric effects of volcanic aerosols—hazy skies with vivid sunsets—are evident in Turner’s paintings such as Chichester Canal. These works capture the ethereal light caused by volcanic particles scattering sunlight.

Romantic Landscape Painting: Artists like Turner and Constable became fascinated with atmospheric phenomena, incorporating dramatic skies and moody landscapes into their works. This reflected Romanticism's emphasis on nature's power and sublimity.

The eruption played a significant role in shaping Romantic literature:
Romantic writers were deeply influenced by nature's destructive potential, which Tambora exemplified. This reinforced their fascination with sublime landscapes and humanity's vulnerability to natural forces. The gloomy weather contributed to an increased focus on themes of despair, isolation, and existential dread in Romantic works. These themes became central to Gothic literature, including Frankenstein and Byron’s poetry.

The societal impact of Tambora extended beyond literature. Widespread crop failures caused mass migrations in Europe and North America. This displacement influenced cultural narratives about survival and resilience.
The crises following Tambora spurred early public health initiatives in Europe, such as Ireland's national fever committee, which later evolved into modern health bureaucracies. The eruption catalyzed artistic responses that explored human endurance amid catastrophe. These works served as cultural coping mechanisms for societies grappling with environmental disaster.

The Mount Tambora eruption profoundly influenced literature, art, Romanticism, and society by creating an apocalyptic backdrop that inspired some of the most iconic works of the early 19th century. From Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to Turner’s atmospheric paintings, these creative responses highlight how environmental catastrophes can shape cultural expression and societal evolution.

The global economy definitely faced severe disruptions due to the eruption:
Crop failures led to skyrocketing food prices worldwide. For instance, grain prices in Europe nearly doubled, causing widespread hunger.

The agricultural collapse affected global trade networks for commodities like wheat and rice. Protectionist policies emerged as governments sought to secure domestic food supplies.

In the U.S., falling agricultural commodity prices triggered a collapse in land values and contributed to the Panic of 1819, marking one of the first major economic depressions in American history.

The eruption also profoundly disrupted daily life. Widespread crop failures left millions hungry. In Vermont, residents resorted to eating porcupines and boiled nettles for survival. Many Europeans emigrated to North America seeking better conditions, though they often found similar hardships due to crop failures in the United States as well. Malnutrition weakened populations, making them more susceptible to diseases such as typhus and cholera.

The Mount Tambora eruption had far-reaching effects on weather patterns, the environment, global economies, political systems, and daily life. It catalyzed social unrest, economic depressions, public health reforms, and even migration patterns while highlighting humanity's vulnerability to natural disasters. This event remains a critical historical example of how environmental catastrophes can reshape societies on a global scale.

In conclusion, I would like to invite you back to Celebrate Poe for an episode covering an actual literary competition that has come to be associated with “The Year Without a Summer.”

As the storm clouds gathered over Lake Geneva in the summer of 1816, an extraordinary convergence of talent and creativity took place at the Villa Diodati. This historic mansion became the stage for one of literature's most famous gatherings, where a group of Romantic luminaries—Lord Byron, Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Polidori, and Claire Clairmont—found themselves trapped indoors by relentless rain. What began as an effort to pass the time evolved into a creative challenge that would forever alter the landscape of Gothic fiction.

Imagine the scene: lightning illuminating the jagged peaks of the Jura Mountains, thunder rolling across the lake, and candlelight flickering on the faces of these literary pioneers as they read aloud from a collection of German ghost stories. It was here that Lord Byron proposed a contest: each person would write their own ghost story. The results were extraordinary. Mary Shelley, just 18 years old, conceived Frankenstein, a tale born from a "waking dream" of scientific ambition gone awry. Meanwhile, Polidori began crafting The Vampyre, the precursor to modern vampire fiction.

But this gathering was more than just a literary exercise—it was a collision of personalities and ideas. Byron's charisma and scandalous reputation added drama to the mix, while Percy Shelley's poetic sensibilities inspired philosophical discussions about life, death, and creation. The Villa Diodati became a crucible for creativity, its stormy nights giving rise to themes that continue to haunt readers today.

In our next episode, we’ll delve deeper into that remarkable literary competition at the Villa Diodati. 

So join Celebrate Poe for episode 331- The Year Without a Summer, Part Two.

Sources include:  Mount Tambora: The Eruption That Changed the World’s Climate by Alicia Castaneda, Tambora: The Eruption That Changed the World by Gillen D'Arcy Wood,  Tambora and the Year without a Summer: How a Volcano Plunged the World into Crisis by Wolfgang Behringer, and The Year Without Summer: 1816 and the Volcano That Darkened the World and Changed History by William K. Klingaman and Nicholas P. Klingaman,
Thank you for listening to Celebrate Poe.