Toba supereruption

The Toba supereruption, which occurred around 74,000 years ago in present-day Indonesia, was one of the Earth's largest volcanic events. It released an enormous volume of volcanic ash, gases, and pumice into the atmosphere, creating a massive caldera. This eruption caused a "volcanic winter," drastically lowering global temperatures and disrupting climate patterns. Some scientists believe it nearly caused a global human population bottleneck, severely reducing human numbers at the time. Despite its scale, life persisted, and ecosystems eventually recovered over thousands of years. The Toba eruption is significant for understanding how supervolcanoes can influence Earth's climate and life's resilience.