Icelandic eruption and others previously

Just as the frightening and costly recession did give us some opportunities to think and act in new ways, the Icelandic volcano plume also gives us a push to think differently.  You may have more than enough information about it already but I found this short article on Wired.com helpful.

All those studying volcanoes might be interested.

The darkening of the atmosphere has been historically important as explained in the link above.  It doesn't mention Mt. Toba on the island of Sumatra 74,000 years ago.  I had never heard of it until a year ago when an anthropologist explained the theory that some human intelligence traits might have been influenced by evolution and death rates caused by the Toba eruption.

There is also the book by the good writer Simon Winchester "Krakatoa" about another important eruption and its effects.  Here is a general link to info on that important event in 1883.