GEOLOGY

EARTH SCIENCE

CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
How do volcanic eruptions affect weather?
A
Eruptions form clouds that drop large amounts of precipitation.
B
Gases and particles may block sunlight and lower temperatures.
C
Vibrations caused by eruptions shift ocean currents, which in turn affect weather.
D
They cause a long-term increase in temperature.
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -They get distributed about the planet by high-level winds, and they have the effect of blocking out some of the Sun’s rays, which lowers global temperatures. This happens because particles and aerosol gases in the upper atmosphere tend to scatter sunlight back to space, lowering the amount of incoming solar energy.

Detailed explanation-2: -Volcanic ash or dust released into the atmosphere during an eruption shade sunlight and cause temporary cooling. Larger particles of ash have little effect because they fall out of the air quickly. Small ash particles form a dark cloud in the troposphere that shades and cools the area directly below.

Detailed explanation-3: -Large eruption columns inject ash particles and sulfur-rich gases into the troposphere and stratosphere and these clouds can circle the globe within weeks of the volcanic activity. The small ash particles decrease the amount of sunlight reaching the surface of the earth and lower average global temperatures.

Detailed explanation-4: -The sulfur dioxide (SO2) in this cloud–about 22 million tons–combined with water to form droplets of sulfuric acid, blocking some of the sunlight from reaching the Earth and thereby cooling temperatures in some regions by as much as 0.5 degrees Celsius.

Detailed explanation-5: -Further effects are the deterioration of water quality, fewer periods of rain, crop damages, and the destruction of vegetation. During volcanic eruptions and their immediate aftermath, increased respiratory system morbidity has been observed as well as mortality among those affected by volcanic eruptions.

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