For modern volcanoes, satellite data shows how much sulfur dioxide is released. When Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines erupted in 1991, it propelled roughly 15 million tons into the stratosphere.

Damage from volcanic ash at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines after the June 15, 1991, eruption of Mount Pinatubo. Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of ...

But with rising star Tiffany Lee lurking and the unpredictable Pinatubo course proving to be a relentless test, the battle for the title remains wide open.

An animation of the Mount Pinatubo eruption of 1991 in the Philippines and its effect on the global climate. The eruption caused sulphur dioxide and ash particles to be ejected into the atmosphere.