Krakatoa’s Eruption Was the Loudest Sound in Recorded History

On August 27, 1883, the Krakatoa volcano on Rakata Island in Indonesia erupted with an unprecedented force, producing the loudest sound ever recorded in history. The cataclysmic event sent shockwaves around the world, with the eruption’s sounds estimated to reach an astonishing 310 dB SPL (Sound Pressure Level). Reports suggest that the record-breaking noise from the 1883 eruption was heard up to 3,000 miles away in the western Indian Ocean, taking nearly four hours to reach these distant locations due to the speed of sound.

The power of Krakatoa’s eruption was equivalent to a 200-megaton bomb, four times as powerful as the largest human-produced thermonuclear explosion, the Tsar Bomba, in 1961. The immense energy released during the eruption caused the sound waves to circle the Earth four times before finally dissipating, solidifying its place in history as the loudest sound ever recorded.

Key Takeaways

• Krakatoa’s 1883 eruption produced the loudest sound in recorded history, reaching an estimated 310 dB SPL.
• The sound from the eruption was heard up to 3,000 miles away in the western Indian Ocean.
• The power of the eruption was equivalent to a 200-megaton bomb, four times more powerful than the Tsar Bomba.
• The sound waves from Krakatoa’s eruption circled the Earth four times before dissipating.
• The cataclysmic event solidified Krakatoa’s place in history as the source of the loudest sound ever recorded.

The Cataclysmic 1883 Eruption

The 1883 volcanic eruption of Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia, was a catastrophic event that had far-reaching consequences. The eruption began on August 26, 1883, and reached its peak on the following day, unleashing a series of massive explosions that were heard as far away as Australia and the island of Rodrigues, over 4,800 kilometers (3,000 miles) across the Indian Ocean.

The explosive nature of the eruption was due to the interaction of magma with seawater, which created a phreatomagmatic eruption. This type of eruption occurs when magma comes into contact with water, causing the water to rapidly vaporize and expand, leading to powerful explosions. The force of these explosions was so great that they tore the island of Krakatau apart, causing much of it to collapse into the sea.

The collapse of the island triggered massive tsunamis that devastated the surrounding coastlines. These waves reached heights of up to 40 meters (130 feet) and swept across the Sunda Strait, slamming into the nearby islands of Java and Sumatra. The tsunamis caused widespread destruction and loss of life, with an estimated 36,000 people perishing in the aftermath of the eruption.

The Krakatau eruption was not just a local event; it had global implications. The ash and debris from the eruption were ejected high into the atmosphere, where they circled the Earth and affected weather patterns for years to come. The eruption also had a significant impact on global communication, as it was one of the first natural disasters to be reported almost instantaneously around the world, thanks to the relatively new technology of the telegraph. This early form of long-distance communication allowed news of the eruption to spread rapidly, making it a truly global event.

The 1883 eruption of Krakatau marked a turning point in the study of volcanoes and their impact on the Earth. The event captured the attention of scientists worldwide and sparked a new era of research into volcanic activity and its consequences. The lessons learned from the Krakatau eruption helped to establish the field of volcanology and paved the way for a better understanding of these powerful natural phenomena.

Measuring the Immense Sound Pressure

The eruption of Krakatoa in 1883 produced an astonishing sound pressure level that reverberated across the globe. At the Batavia gasworks, situated 99 miles from the volcano, the sound pressure level spiked to an incredible 8.5 kPa, which is equivalent to a staggering 172 decibels. To put this into perspective, a sound pressure level of 150 decibels is already considered sufficient to rupture the human eardrum.

The immense sound pressure wave generated by Krakatoa’s eruption traveled around the world an astonishing seven times over the course of the following five days. This remarkable phenomenon was meticulously recorded by barographs located in various parts of the world. These instruments, designed to measure long-term changes in atmospheric pressure, provided valuable data on the propagation of the sound waves.

In addition to the audible sound waves, Krakatoa’s eruption also produced powerful infrasonic pressure waves. These low-frequency waves, which are below the range of human hearing, rippled through the atmosphere and circled the globe an impressive four times. The barographs were able to detect these infrasonic waves, with some instruments recording four distinct waves, while others managed to log up to seven waves.

The ability of the sound pressure waves from Krakatoa’s eruption to travel such vast distances and circle the Earth multiple times highlights the sheer power and intensity of the volcanic event. The precise measurements obtained by the barographs provide valuable scientific data that helps us better understand the propagation of sound and the effects of volcanic eruptions on the Earth’s atmosphere.

Krakatoa’s Record-Breaking Sound

The eruption of Krakatoa in 1883 produced the loudest sound in recorded history, with an astonishing 194 decibels (dB). At this level, the acoustic vibration transformed into a devastating sonic boom and atmospheric shock wave that had catastrophic effects on nearby humans and animals. The sheer power of the eruption was unrivaled until the violent underwater volcano eruption in Tonga in January 2022, which also sent shockwaves around the world.

Witnesses on the island of Rodrigues, situated approximately 3,000 miles away from Krakatoa, described the sound as resembling “cannon fire from a nearby ship” or the “distant roar of heavy guns.” The explosion’s reach was truly astounding, with reports of it being heard an incredible 4,800 km (3,000 miles) away. This demonstrates the immense power and global impact of Krakatoa’s record-breaking sound, which surpassed even the historical significance of America’s true independence.

The atmospheric shock wave generated by the eruption circled the Earth multiple times, and its effects were recorded by barometers worldwide. The sonic boom created by Krakatoa’s eruption remains an unparalleled event in human history, showcasing the awe-inspiring force of nature and the far-reaching consequences of such cataclysmic events.