An environmental drama played out on the world stage in the late 18th century when a volcano killed 9,000 Icelanders and brought a famine to Egypt that reduced the population of the Nile valley by a sixth.

A study by three scientists from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and a collaborator from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, demonstrates a connection between these two widely separated events. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Source and the rest of the story:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061121232204.htm

Thanks for finding stuff like this DA. It's always good to be reminded how intricate and sensitive the web is.

I recall hearing about a connection between U.S. particulates and increased rain in N.Africa. Since we cleaned things up back in the 70's & 80's, N.Africa became much drier. I wonder if our increasing forest fires are helping N.Africa now?

~samwik

Imagine the potential for Africa to complain bitterly at the United Nations that environmental cleanup is devastating their environment and causing widespread starvation: It is possible.

Much like the damage done in the Middle East by the 1950s overthrow of Mohammad Mosadeq. We have messed with so many things we shouldn't have it is likely impossible to put Humpty Dumpty back together again.

I first saw evidence of how inter-related different parts of the World are while living in Paris. One January morning I woke up and looked outside...at pink snow. Too much Bordeaux the night before? Air pollution? No, it seems that windstorms in the Sahara cast sand up into the stratosphere. Ice crystals form around the grains of sand - Pink Snow. By noon it was all gone.