June 06

Events - Nature & Environment

1912day.year

The eruption of Novarupta in Alaska begins. It is the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century.

The colossal eruption of Novarupta in Alaska began, unleashing vast ash and pumice in the largest volcanic event of the 20th century.
On June 6, 1912, Novarupta volcano in Alaska's Katmai region erupted in an event that would become the most powerful volcanic explosion of the 20th century. The eruption expelled more than 30 cubic kilometers of ash and pumice over a 60-hour period. A massive ash cloud rose 23 kilometers into the atmosphere, impacting air travel and climate in the Northern Hemisphere. Pyroclastic flows filled the nearby Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, creating a moonscape of scalded rock and ash. The summit collapse of Mount Katmai formed a new caldera adjacent to Novarupta. Local communities endured heavy ashfall, leading to evacuations and damage to fisheries and crops. Scientists studied the eruption's deposits, making pioneering observations in volcanology. Today, Novarupta and its surroundings are preserved within Katmai National Park as a site of geological significance.
1912 Novarupta volcanic
2002day.year

Eastern Mediterranean event. A near-Earth asteroid estimated at ten meters in diameter explodes over the Mediterranean Sea between Greece and Libya. The explosion is estimated to have a force of 26 kilotons, slightly more powerful than the Nagasaki atomic bomb.

On June 6, 2002, a small asteroid exploded over the Mediterranean between Greece and Libya with a force exceeding the Nagasaki bomb.
On June 6, 2002, a near-Earth asteroid approximately ten meters across entered Earth’s atmosphere over the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The object exploded with an estimated yield of 26 kilotons, surpassing the force of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki. Debris from the airburst fell into the sea between Greece and Libya, but no direct damage was reported on land. Scientists tracked the event using infrasound detection networks and satellite observations. The incident provided valuable data on the atmospheric entry of small celestial bodies. It underscored the importance of monitoring near-Earth objects for planetary defense efforts.
2002 Eastern Mediterranean event near-Earth asteroid Libya kilotons Nagasaki atomic bomb