The effect of volcanic eruptions on global turbidity, and an attempt to detect long‐term trends due to man

Abstract

Abstract Following a brief discussion of early radiation measurements and the interpretation of the effects of volcanic eruptions in the light of current knowledge of the stratosphere, recent radiation data from USSR, Japan, USA and Australia are examined. Whilst the effects of the Agung eruption are clearly seen on a global scale, the analysis yields no convincing evidence for a recent world‐wide increase in atmospheric turbidity. The need for extreme measurement accuracy is emphasized in the context of long‐term atmospheric monitoring.