Volcanic eruptions slow down Global Warming: Study

As per recently published study in the journal Nature Communications, Volcanic eruptions by injecting particulates into the atmosphere may have slowed down global warming.
The study was based upon research of a team of international researchers including Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) scientists.
Key facts from study

• During the last 10 years volcanic aerosols have acted as a natural umbrella to slow down global warming from release of anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs).
• The global concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere has continuously increased over the past decade but due to volcanic aerosols the mean global surface temperature has not increased indicating negative climate forcing effect.
• In the years 2008-2011, volcanic aerosol particles have reflected the incoming solar radiation twice in the lowest part of the stratosphere than previously thought.
• However, the frequent volcanic eruptions and the subsequent cooling effect is only temporary phenomenon. Thus, the temperature rise will speed up again.
• The study had used the data from the tropopause region located up to 35 km altitude in the atmosphere.

Tropopause: It is region of transition layer between the wet weather layer with clouds (troposphere) at lower level and the dry and cloud-free layer (stratosphere) above it.
In the Tropapause temperature is constant whereas in troposphere it decreases with increase in altitude and in stratosphere it increases with altitude.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2015