However, mimicking the explosive powers of Earth's supervolcanoes is not easy. The volcanic cloud generated by Mount Pinatubo contained 15 million tons of sulfur dioxide and reached up to the altitude of 21 miles (34 kilometers). For months, the sulfur dioxide particles remained suspended in the stratosphere, the second layer of the atmosphere that extends between the altitudes of 9 to 30 miles (15 to 50 km). The ability of these particles to reflect solar radiation resulted in somewhat less sunlight reaching the lower levels of the atmosphere, which then experienced an overall cooling. Solar-powered soot Authors of a new study, published in the journal Science Advances on Friday (May 14), argue that hauling such massive quantities of sun-reflecting aerosol to such high altitudes is beyond the capabilities of any existing aircraft, and developing new technologies to do as much would be too costly and time-consuming.