Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology (12th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0134074254
ISBN 13: 978-0-13407-425-2

Chapter 21 - Section 21.5 - Natural Causes of Climate Change - Concept Checks - Page 649: 1

Answer

The El Chichón eruption in Mexico occurred in April 1982, and the Mount Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines occurred in June 1991. Both eruptions had significant effects on global temperatures. El Chichón released a considerable amount of sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the atmosphere, leading to the formation of sulfate aerosols, which reflected incoming solar radiation and temporarily cooled the Earth's surface. Studies indicate that the El Chichón eruption caused a cooling effect of about 0.2 to 0.3 degrees Celsius for a couple of years after the eruption. Similarly, the Mount Pinatubo eruption was one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the 20th century, releasing even larger amounts of sulfur dioxide and aerosols. This eruption caused a more pronounced cooling effect, with global temperatures dropping by about 0.5 to 0.6 degrees Celsius in the year following the eruption. The sulfate aerosols remained in the atmosphere for a few years, resulting in a cooling effect that lasted until around 1993.

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