The figure shows the global evolution and dispersion of the Pinatubo aerosol cloud over nearly a two-year period. During this period, the aerosol cloud completely encircled the globe in a narrow zone, then the cloud dispersed outward over the globe.
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The Mount Pinatubo eruption had major impacts on the Earth system. The resulting aerosols are believed to have contributed to reduced ozone concentrations over the polar region of the Southern Hemisphere. This was the lowest observed level ever.
The ΓÇ£BeforeΓÇ¥ image shows low levels of sulfuric acid/water aerosol before the eruption of Pinatubo. The ΓÇ£DuringΓÇ¥ image shows the 40-days following the eruption, with reds and yellows being higher concentrations of the aerosols. Twenty months later, the aerosol cloud can be seen dipsersed over the globe in the ΓÇ£AfterΓÇ¥ image.
