An Eruption of Volcanic Information

March 13, 2022

Written by: Caroline Kim

Now I don’t know about you, but I forgot volcanoes existed. They might seem so surreal, but I assure you they are very real, and very powerful when it comes to how they affect the environment.

One article states“... volcanic gases like sulfur dioxide can cause global cooling, while volcanic carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, has the potential to promote global warming” (Volcanoes can affect climate). According to this article, the different volcanic gases and residue from a volcanic eruption is released into the earth's atmosphere, causing changes in global climate. In terms of climate cooling, sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid are converted into aerosols, which in turn increase light reflected back to space (Volcanoes can affect climate). Another cause of cooling temperatures can be directly from the dust particles and residue; these particles stay in the stratosphere, blocking sunlight (Center for Science Education). On the alternative side, volcanoes also release significant quantities of water vapor and carbon dioxide (Center for Science Education), which are the fundamental causes of global warming.

Aside from climate change, volcanic ash is so small that it “can enter into practically everything—from car engines, to office building air vents, to personal computers. It can severely erode anything that it contacts, often causing machinery to fail” (Human and Environmental Impacts of Volcanic Ash). If it were to destroy the machinery, systems within the community would fail, and many complications would arise. I think it’s safe to say volcanic eruptions are not something to appreciate, though they are fascinating.

Sources:

“Volcanoes Can Affect Climate.” Volcanoes Can Affect Climate | U.S. Geological Survey, https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanoes-can-affect-climate#:~:text=Volcanoes%20can%20impact%20climate%20change,little%20impact%20on%20climate%20change.

“Center for Science Education.” How Volcanoes Influence Climate | Center for Science Education, https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/how-climate-works/how-volcanoes-influence-climate#:~:text=The%20gases%20and%20dust%20particles,the%20characteristics%20of%20the%20eruption.

National Geographic Society. “Human and Environmental Impacts of Volcanic Ash.” National Geographic Society, 9 Oct. 2012, https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/human-environmental-impact-volcanic-ash/.