Volcanoes cause global warming. This statement may seem alarming, but it is based on science.Volcanic activity releases greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, into the atmosphere which can lead to the planet heating up.In addition to the gases that are produced directly by volcanoes, eruptions can also release much larger amounts of aerosols, further influencing the climate.This phenomenon has been studied for years, yet in recent years the interest has grown due to increasing evidence of how volcanic activity affects our planet’s climate.
Volcanic eruptions can result in a considerable emission of aerosols, either from solid particles ejected into the atmosphere by the explosion or from liquid droplets generated when volcanic ash mixes with the air and absorbs water vapour.These aerosols cause the Earth’s atmosphere to cool down, acting like a ‘sunscreen’ and reflecting some of the sun’s rays away. This cooling effect can reduce surface temperatures in the short term, however, it can ultimately result in a warming of the atmosphere and climate system.This occurs because the same aerosols that reflect sunlight away also act like a sponge and absorb some of the short-wave radiation emitted by the Earth and this radiation heats up the atmosphere.
So as well as causing short term cooling, volcanic activity and its subsequent aerosols can actually lead to an increase in global temperatures.This phenomenon has been observed during major eruptions, such as the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the early 1990s and the eruptions of Chaiten in 2009 and Pacaya in 2010.These eruptions were followed by a period of slight warming of the Earth’s surface, suggesting an increase in the atmospheric temperature.
However, these effects are relatively short-lived, with temperatures returning to pre-eruption levels within two years. This means that the long-term warming effect of individual volcanic eruptions is small when compared to the contributions of human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane.
Despite this, volcanoes can still play a small but significant role in global warming. They can act as a ‘natural laboratory’, providing scientists with information on how the climate and atmosphere interact, helping them to better understand the climate system and its response to human-caused emissions.In addition, volcanic eruptions have been linked to natural weather events such as El Niño and La Niña, possibly influencing the global climate in more indirect ways.
This article is meant to provide an objective examination of how volcanic activity affects global warming. While it is unlikely that the effects of isolated volcanic eruptions would be felt in a dramatic way, it is important to consider the cumulative and indirect effects of volcanic activity when trying to understand climate change. It is also clear that, while volcanic activity may provide researchers with data that can help inform and improve climate change models, the primary contributors to global warming are still human activities.
