Iceland volcano does not affect the global climate

Many people think that volcanic activity in Iceland will cause global temperatures to drop, but scientists claim it is unlikely.

Scientists believe that the amount of dust produced by volcanic glaciers in Iceland is not large enough to reduce the temperature of the earth's surface.Photo: AP.

AFP said that, when the Pinatubo volcano erupted in 1991, the earth's surface temperature dropped by 0.5 degrees Celsius for the next year - large enough to compensate for the rise in temperature of greenhouse gases. from 1991 to 1993.

Earlier, when the St Helens volcano in the United States operated in 1980, it only sprayed a tenth of the dust of the Pinatubo volcano, but also made the earth's temperature drop slightly.

Scientists claim that when volcanoes are active, they spray a large amount of dust and sulfur dioxide - a gas that can fly up to the stratosphere of the atmosphere. Here the physical and chemical properties of the gases combine, creating a layer of white microscopic particles. This class was blown around the world for months or years. When meeting it, a part of sunlight will be blocked so it cannot reach the ground.

'It's like putting a mirror above the windshield of a car so that sunlight can't penetrate. The presence of mirrors makes the temperature in the cockpit decrease , 'explains Colin Macpherson, a scientist at Durham University in the northeast of England.

But Macpherson and many other experts claim the amount of dust that volcanic eruptions in the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland are too small and sulfur dioxide is not large enough to produce a global cooling effect. Also the dust and smoke move too low.

Emmanuel Bocrie, a scientist from the French Weather Forecasting Agency, said: 'When Pinatubo operates, dust and smoke fly to an altitude of 18 km. But the volcanic dust of Iceland only reached a height of 6 to 11 km. There were a lot of strong winds appearing in the air floor so the dust and smoke would disperse quickly. '

'At the present time, the amount of dust generated by this volcano is only about 1% of that of St Helens volcano erupted in 1980. With such a small amount of dust, it cannot create a The effect is clear to the climate, ' AFP quoted Scylla Sillayo, an expert at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Many scientists predict that the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull volcano will have an impact on European climate, but people have to wait a few years to feel the impact.

'In the 80s of the 18th century, a large volcano in southern Iceland was active for several years and spewed out lots of sulfur. It creates a thick layer of dust in the sky that makes the atmosphere become dirty and dangerous. Acid rain often occurs, and crop seasons fall. The consequences came two years after the volcano awoke, ' Macpherson said.

While volcanoes can help delay global warming, it causes another great loss. Volcanic dust from the volcano will destroy the ozone layer - a shield that protects people and all animals on the planet from harmful ultraviolet rays.

Source: AP