A recent scientific study revealed that particles released by volcanic eruptions contribute in holding back the effects of global warming on Earth, Live Science reported.
Finding of the study were detailed in a report published by the online journal Geophysical Research Letters.
Led by MIT atmospheric scientist David Ridley, the researchers discovered that the sulfur dioxide aerosols released by volcanoes as they erupt have a cooling effect on the globe. As the aerosols enter the stratosphere, they form a protective layer that repels the solar radiation from the sun.
For the study, Ridley's team used a computer model to track the effects of volcanic eruptions since 2000. Based on the data they collected, the aerosols released by volcanic eruptions caused a drop in temperature by .09 to .22 degrees Fahrenheit.
The researchers noted that the location or elevation of the volcano also plays a significant role in its cooling effect. For instance, Russia's Sarychev Peak, which has an elevation of 1,496 meters, spewed a higher percentage of aerosol particles than other volcanoes when it erupted in 2009.
Aside from its elevation, the size of a volcano's eruption can also release more aerosols in the stratosphere. This was revealed in a similar study conducted in 2013.
In the study, researchers from the University of Colorado pointed out that the massive eruption of the Philippines' Mount Pinatubo in 1991 produced a high level of aerosol particles that caused a drop in the Earth's temperature by 1 degree Fahrenheit. The eruption's cooling effect lasted for about two years, according to the university's online news site Colorado.
"This new study indicates it is emissions from small to moderate volcanoes that have been slowing down the warming of the planet," lead researcher Ryan Neely explained.
Despite the findings, researcher Brian Toon, who is a professor at the university, noted that volcanic eruptions cannot reverse the effects of global warming since the aerosols blocking the sun's radiation will eventually dissipate or go down.
"Overall these eruptions are not going to counter the greenhouse effect," he said. "Emissions of volcanic gases go up and down, helping to cool or heat the planet, while greenhouse gas emissions from human activity just continue to go up."
