The Role of Volcanoes

You might assume that volcanoes primarily warm the atmosphere, and while that's partly true, the reality is more complex. Volcanoes release various substances during eruptions, some of which contribute to heating, while others have a cooling effect.

When a volcano erupts, it releases substantial amounts of carbon-based gases and volcanic ash into the atmosphere. For instance, the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 released approximately 490 billion tons of ash along with 10 million tons of CO₂. These emissions have significantly different impacts on our climate.

The Impact of Ash and Sulphates

It’s well-established that CO₂ contributes to global warming, so let’s focus on the role of ash. While most ash settles quickly, smaller particles can linger in the atmosphere for years, reflecting sunlight and cooling the Earth. Particularly effective in this regard are sulphates.

In the case of Mount St. Helens, only a tiny fraction (0.03%) of the ash was sulphates, yet it managed to lower global temperatures by approximately 0.1°C. This cooling effect occurs because sulphates combine with water in the atmosphere to form sulphuric acid, which then appears as aerosol particles that reflect sunlight back into space.

While a drop of 0.1°C may seem negligible, other eruptions have had a more profound impact. The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo released 20 million tons of sulphur dioxide, resulting in a global temperature decrease of 0.5°C for about two years.

Artificial Eruptions: A Possible Solution?

So, why not artificially inject sulphates into the atmosphere to counteract global warming? If we simulate a few volcanic eruptions, we could theoretically cool the planet. However, the scale of intervention required is immense.

With predictions indicating a temperature rise of at least 2°C over the next century, simulating four eruptions within two years would necessitate injecting 40 million tons of sulphates into the atmosphere annually—equivalent to the weight of about 80 Burj Khalifas!

The Environmental Costs

Producing such a vast quantity of sulphate would carry a significant carbon footprint. Since sulphur is typically mined, the ecological implications could be dire. However, sustainable mining practices could mitigate some environmental damage.

Additionally, the location of these injections raises concerns. The reaction of sulphates with atmospheric elements produces sulphuric acid, leading to acid rain. This could devastate local agriculture, disrupt ecosystems, and even damage infrastructure. Furthermore, the process could harm the ozone layer, allowing harmful UV radiation to penetrate.

The Global Consequences

Injecting sulphates into the atmosphere would need to be carefully managed to avoid catastrophic weather shifts. For instance, if these interventions occurred in the Southern Hemisphere, they could provoke severe weather events, such as floods and droughts in the Northern Hemisphere.

Attempting to distribute the sulphate evenly across the globe would likely result in widespread acid rain and extreme weather conditions everywhere. While global cooling might be achieved, the collateral damage could be enormous.

The Dilemma Ahead

As we face a potential rise of 1.5°C in global temperatures, the stakes are high. This threshold could trigger a cascade of severe climate changes, leading to significant extinctions.

In the next 50 years, as we approach this critical temperature rise, we may find ourselves with no good options. We could either allow the planet to spiral into an environmental crisis or resort to artificial volcanic eruptions, accepting the associated risks.

Exploring the possibility of using synthetic volcanoes to combat climate change reveals that while it could be a viable strategy, it comes with substantial implications for our planet and its ecosystems.

The first video titled "What If We Woke Up Volcanoes to Fight Climate Change?" discusses the idea of utilizing volcanic eruptions as a potential method to counteract climate change, exploring the feasibility and implications of such actions.

The second video titled "White House: Blocking the sun could stop climate change – but how can it be done?" provides insights into the controversial proposal of geoengineering and its potential role in climate change mitigation.