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Why can volcanic eruptions help to begin an ice age?

Answer 1

Smoke and ash in the atmosphere can block sunlight.

The Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia) produced unusual volcanic activity in 1815 (Mount Tambora) and 1883 (Krakatoa), disrupting weather patterns so much that 1816 was dubbed the "Year Without Summer" and weather patterns after Krakatoa didn't return to normal until 1888. Both eruptions were unusually large, but neither initiated an Ice Age; in fact, the Mount Tambora eruption occurred at the tail end of a "Little Ice Age" (roughly 1300–1850 AD). The smoke and ash from these eruptions blocked a significant amount of sunlight and killed several seasons' worth of crops in much of the world.

There hasn't been a volcano of this size in over 26,000 years, but one is rumored to be percolating and ready to blow under Yellowstone. A supervolcano—an apocalyptic, VEI 7 or 8—might start an Ice Age.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.