ClimateWire: An actively erupting volcano in Iceland has the potential to lower the Earth’s temperatures, cause acid rain and damage the ozone layer. But the Eyjafjallajokull volcano isn’t at that stage, at least not yet.
The Iceland eruption launched a cloud with sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen fluoride 7 miles high. It has shut down air traffic across northern Europe and dropped ash on the surrounding area, prompting residents to wear dust masks when they go outside. Falling ash can also pollute local water, damage vegetation and kill livestock.
Sulfur emitted from volcanoes can react with the water in the air to form sulfuric acid droplets that reflect sunlight and block some of the rays. That can reduce temperatures for about a year until the droplets fall out of the sky. The 1991 explosion of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines cooled the planet by 0.9 degree Fahrenheit.
The intentional release of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere has been proposed as a possible geoengineering solution to curb global warming (MSNBC, April 15). – JP