New studies have shown that sulphur dioxide emissions from moderate volcanoes around the world can mask some of the effects of global warming by 25%. A team led by the University of Colorado Boulder was looking for clues for why Earth did not get warm as much as scientists expected it to, between 2000 and 2010.
On the other hand, the results of this new study has excused India and China, two countries that are estimated to have increased their industrial sulphur dioxide emissions by 60% from 2000 to 2010 through coal burning. “Small amounts of sulphur dioxide emissions from Earth’s surface eventually rise into the stratospheric aerosol layer of the atmosphere, where chemical reactions create sulphuric acid and reflect sunlight back to space, thus cooling the planet”, researchers said. Ryan Neely also suggests that more than anything; it is the emissions from small to moderate volcanoes that have been slowing the warming of the planet.
Although a number of theories are present which talk separately on both the reasons for sulphur emissions mentioned by scientist Ryan Neely. Of which one was a 2009 study led by the late David Hoffman of NOAA indicating aerosol increase in the stratosphere may have come from rising emissions of sulphur dioxide from India and China. In contrast, a 2011 study led by Vernier, showed moderate volcanic eruptions play a role in increasing particulates in the stratosphere.
While small and moderate volcanoes mask some of the human-caused warming of the planet, larger volcanoes can have a much bigger effect. “The biggest implication here is that scientists need to pay more attention to small and moderate volcanic eruptions when trying to understand changes in Earth’s climate,” said Professors Brian Toon from CU-Boulder’s Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.
But one thing is confirmed, the emissions from the volcanoes may go up or down but the greenhouse gas emissions from human activity only continue to go up uncontrollably.
