⚙️ how
How do volcanoes affect climate after a major eruption?
Quick Answer
Big explosive eruptions can inject sulfur compounds into the stratosphere, where they form reflective particles that cool Earth for a few years.
The Full Story
When a large volcano erupts explosively, it can loft sulfur dioxide high into the stratosphere. There it turns into sulfate aerosols that reflect some sunlight back to space, reducing the amount of solar energy reaching the surface. This can cause short-term global cooling and changes in rainfall patterns. The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines is a well-studied example that cooled the planet by about half a degree Celsius for roughly a year or two.
Key Facts
1.Stratospheric sulfate aerosols reflect sunlight
2.Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991
3.Large eruptions can cool climate temporarily
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"How can one volcano cool the whole planet?"
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