A new study made by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers revealed that small volcanic eruptions are mitigating the effect of the greenhouse gases and curtailing the rate of Global warming by as much as half. As a matter of fact such volcanic activities may decrease the pace of warming in recent years and shorten up the predicted level of CO2 going in the atmosphere.
Technically the vast quantity of ash and gases released high in the atmosphere by the eruptions can block the solar radiations and put the dramatic cooling effect on Earth’s climate. Scientists believe theorized that explosion of Indonesia’s Mt. Tambora in 1815, for example, probably caused a severe cold spell in 1816 which became known as “Eighteen hundred and froze-to-death,” or “the year without a summer.”
Scientists did all these observations and calculations using balloons, laser radar, and including ground-based measurements.
Researchers found that dozens of eruptions around the world over the past 15 years may have reduced the greenhouse effects by about 0.005 to 0.12 degree Celsius. Over roughly that same time period, the rate of global warming has slowed, though surface temperatures have continued to rise.
The volcanic eruptions releases sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere which forms tiny droplets of sulfuric acid also known as volcanic aerosols, which can block sunlight. While previous studies have noted that effect from small volcanoes, the new study found that the effect is bigger than previously thought.
