‘The Colossal Consequences of Supervolcanoes’, A TED-Ed Animation About the Impact of Giant Volcanoes

In “The Colossal Consequences of Supervolcanoes,” a TED-Ed Animation directed by animator Andrew Foerster, educator Alex Gendler discusses the extremely far reaching impact of supervolcanoes, which can affect our environment a year later and a world away.

While the popular image of volcanic destruction is molten rock engulfing the surrounding land, far greater devastation is caused by what’s left in the air. Volcanic ash can blanket the sky for days, while toxic gases, such as sulfur dioxide, react in the stratesphere, blocking out solar radiation and drastically cooling the atmosphere below.