Volcanic ash contributed to Napoleon’s Waterloo

A volcanic eruption in Indonesia contributed to Napoleon Bonaparte’s downfall at the Battle of Waterloo, scientists believe.

New evidence suggests electrically-charged volcanic ash altered the Earth’s weather in 1815, causing a June downpour of heavy rain across Europe.

The wet and muddy conditions played a key role in the French emperor’s defeat at Waterloo, an event that changed the course of European history.

Two months before the battle, the volcano Mount Tambora erupted on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, killing 100,000 people and sending huge amounts of ash 62 miles into the atmosphere.

The resulting “pulse” of cloud formation led to heavy rain across Europe.