When volcanoes erupt, they release massive amounts of gases and particles into the atmosphere. These particles, referred to by scientists as "aerosols," reflect incoming solar radiation back into outer space, cooling the planet. The influence of volcanic emissions can be felt hemispherically, or globally, if the emissions reach the upper atmosphere (stratosphere). Major explosive volcanic eruptions, such as the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, can produce surface cooling on the order of around 0.5 degrees C (0.9 degrees F) for several years.
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This resource area was created by the: Climate, Forests and Woodlands community
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In This Resource Area
- What Makes a Tree Unique?
- Biodiversity in Forests
- Forest Management Types
- Understanding Soils in Forests
- Hydrology in Forests
- Climate Variability and Change: Basic Concepts
- Climate Controls
- Past and Present Climate
- Basics of Climate Models
- Regional Climate Models
- Regional Climate Change Impacts from USGCRP
- Climate Change Assessments
- Interpreting Climate Data for Land Management
- Ecosystem-Based Effects
- Climate and Disturbance
- Urban Forests and Climate Change
- Forest Carbon Storage
- Climate Change Adaptation for Forests
- Changes in Natural Resource Economics
- Silviculture and Climate Change
- Forest Carbon Storage
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