In 1962 the U.S. space probe Marina 2 launched.
The successful mission was to ‘flyby’ Venus and make the first planetary encounter. It was successful passing Venus within 35,000 kilometres (22,000 mi) on the 14th of December, 1962.
In 1883 the main volcanic eruptions (the most destructive eruption in history) took place on the island of Krakatoa (or Krakatau) in Indonesia.
The first recorded eruptions on the island of Krakatoa began 203 years prior to the huge catastrophic eruption of 1883. This eruption which started in May 1680 was much smaller but it lasted at least until February 1681 when it was witnessed by European explorers.
The Island of Krakatoa had three volcanoes named Perboewatan, Danan and Rakata the largest of these being the former. It is believed to have been Perboewatan that erupted in 1680 and many since thought it to be extinct. The 792m (2,600 ft) high volcano had lush green fertile land down its sides (volcanic eruptions normally produce fertile soil after eruptions which is what draws residents to these potentially dangerous environments) and 200 years of inactivity gave the locals a false sense of safety. The first signs that all may not be well came in the form of small quakes in the area in the early 1880’s. Then on the 20th of May 1883 smoke began to bellow from Perboewatan and by the end of May a smaller eruption began from Perboewatan. Several earthquakes followed, some of which were felt in Australia and New Zealand, and the volcanic activity continued to grow in the following months.
Then on the 26th of August 1883 the volcano began erupting causing persistent explosions to be heard from sailors in the vicinity. An ash cloud stretched 17 miles (27km) high and small tsunamis began to hit the surrounding islands of Java and Sumatra.
On the 27th of August a chain of four eruptions began. Each of these eruptions created tidal waves but the fourth and final eruption changed the local landscape and affected the entire globe. It blew the volcano apart and the entire island apart. Two thirds of the island disappeared beneath the sea causing larger tidal waves that reached 120 ft (36 meter) in height which destroyed the entire settlements on the surrounding islands. An underwater cavern opened up and filled with sea water before sealing up. This water then became superheated and exploaded causing the water to vaporise instantly. This is thought by some to be the main cause of the huge explosive sound that was heard clearly some 2,000 miles away in the Indian Ocean. The eardrums of local sailors were burst and many people around the southern hemisphere believed that the sound was caused by naval ships in the area. It is believed to have been the loudest sound in the history of the earth sending shockwaves that travelled around the earth seven times. One explanation for the intensity of the sound is not only was the initial explosion incredibly powerful (it sent volcanic rock as far as Madagascar) but the sound may also have been channelled around the southern hemisphere by an ‘inversion layer’ in the lower atmosphere. This is a rare natural phenomenon that is caused by a layer of hot air above a layer of cold air (usually air begins to cool at higher altitudes). The speed of sound in the hot air layer is faster and this caused the sound to be projected back down to the ground (instead of into the upper atmosphere as it normally would).
