Is global warming causing an increase in volcanoes? We got that question several times after the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland. EarthSky asked volcanologist Bjorn Oddsson in Iceland. He said “definitely not.” Science hasn’t revealed any direct correlation between volcanoes and global warming. But, he said, it’s possible to visualize a connection.
Bjorn Oddsson: It surely is getting warmer in the world, and glaciers are getting smaller and thinner. And we have volcanoes beneath glaciers. So the mass which is lying on top is getting less, if a volcano is ready to erupt, it’s more likely to erupt under thinner ice than thicker ice.
After the Iceland volcano in April 2010, some scientists called for more research into whether global warming could trigger an increase in geological hazards – volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis. This idea is extremely speculative. No evidence yet exists. But some believe the question deserves a deeper look. In Iceland, Oddsson said, volcanologists are asking another question – how volcanoes might affect climate, instead of the other way around. Volcanoes are known to cool climate with the ash they release. This ash – a mix of burned-up rock and water vapor – can become trapped in the atmosphere.
Bjorn Oddssen: It can cause cooling in the world. That’s what we’ve seen through the history and the centuries. It just blocks the sun out. It can cause a degree or two in temperature, which is lower for one or two years.
Oddsson said the degree of volcanoes’ cooling the atmosphere can vary. It depends on how big the volcanic eruption is, the size of the ash plume, and where winds carry the ash. He pointed to a volcanic eruption in Iceland in the 18th century that caused crops to fail in Europe
Bjorn Oddsson: They just didn’t have enough sunlight to grow.
He added that the volcano had also released major amounts of sulfur gas, which is harmful to crops. Oddsson said, currently, there’s no highly accurate way to model how volcanic ash is produced and dispersed – or the specific effects volcanoes have on weather patterns. But he said the Eyjafjallajokull volcano should provide a test case.
Bjorn Oddsson: Now we are gaining a lot of data from this volcano. We have to work with this data, and put them into the models to make them better. I’m not saying that the models are bad, I’m just saying that we have to make them better.
He reiterated that this is what science is all about.
Bjorn Oddson: To collect data, and evaluate the data, and you have the idea, and then you have a discussion about the idea.
It is not scientific that something that happens in the sky can’t affect tetonic activity below the ground. Besides the volcano did not get the memo concerning “ClimateGate” nor read al gore’s book nor saw his movie.
Apparently he’s (convieniently) forgotten that volcanoes emit tons & tons of sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide, which supposedly are greenhouse gases.
Global warming is not causing volcanoes. There is no global warming at all right now. The earth is cooling. NOt because of humans, because the sun is takin ga siesta. However, volcanic action could well cause or exacerbate the present cooling trend. If this were to occur, truly a disaster could eventuate. Cooling has caused civilizations to collapse in the past. Food will be hard to find. Transportation will suffer and our way of life will likely be a thing of the past. Global warming would increase plant growth and provide more food for us all. If we could actually increase CO2 levels by 100%, plant growth would get even better.
Worry not about the climate, worry about misguided leaders who will wreck our economies over this straw dog.
Bjorn Oddsson did not say there was a connection between volcanoes and climate.
In fact, he said there has been NO EVIDENCE of such a connection.
Still, other scientists recently wondered if a possible connection is something that should be studied. After all, we don’t know everything about how the world works.
The premise of this article is stupid and only exists to antagonize those on both sides of the argument who only read the headline.
Stupid? How so?
We at EarthSky thought this was a good question (asked by many) and an interesting answer.
I wonder why we aren’t entertaining more connections about our world? This isn’t a conspiracy theory; it’s thinking critically about the interrelatedness of our world. Global warming is indisputably real and happening right now. We live in a time when we are able to accurately study shifting patterns on our planet. Why wouldn’t we look to link atmospheric changes and the eruptions of volcanoes or explore possibilities for reversing these effects?
Certainly volcanoes have been happening for millions of years with or without human presence. But what if global warming is affecting the propensity and volume of earthquakes or volcanoes or tsunamis?
I would certainly want scientists to be exploring these relationships. I’ve never been one to close doors or deny possibility. I think that part of the incredible thing about EarthSky is their willingness to explore the inter connectivity of our world and how science shapes it. Keep them coming!… See More
I believe we should rejoice in experimentation and exploration!
DUH 2 DUH GLOBAL WARMING IS 4 REAL IDJUT DUH@DUH OUR ORRTS ON FIRE HAS NUTN 2 DO WITH GLOBAL WARMING GLOBAL WARMING IS 4 DUHKIDS LIKE EASTER F N BUNNY GLOBAL WARMING BE WHEN F N SUN DOUBLES DUH
Bejamin says: There is no global warming at all right now.
I am so delighted to hear that! I thought that glaciers were melting into the sea and the sea level was rising due to warming. Fortunately I was wrong, was I?
OUR POLES OUR SHIFTING SHXT HAPPENS WHEN IT OCCURS
BUT TRUE GO GREEN VOTES BEEN VOTED GO GREEN F N DIE WAS DUH VOTE 4 USDUHS REALLY SO BUNCH OF GOD BELEAVERS SAY YYYY PROLONG YO SUFFERING WAS FINAL ANSWER
Great article! Sure to generate a good amount of discussion and debate.
Its about as unscientific as saying that global warming is causing Britney Spears to go “pantyless”. Maybe the authors scientific license should be revolked!
Survival in these years requires knowledge and expertise and I believe without nurturing oneself, reading survival books sure theres way we anybody can fight global warming or any related environmental catastrophes.