This year’s hot summer is undeniable proof that our planet is getting warmer! We all know that global warming has affected rising sea levels, but by how much? NASA announced that our oceans are rising at a speed of 3.5 mm per year. That’s 3.5 cm per decade! But what scientists have discovered is that volcano eruptions are actually slowing down the global warming process.
Here’s how it works: The light from the sun takes a complete eight seconds to reach Earth. Most of the sun’s light rays get filtered by our planet’s atmosphere, but the remaining heat and light reaches our surface. The world’s oceans cover about 71 percent of Earth, therefore absorbing most of this heat. Although this is a natural process of Earth, human-induced pollution and greenhouse gases trap this heat in the atmosphere. The excess heat is what causes polar ice caps to melt and sea levels to rise. But scientist John Fasullo’s study of Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991 showed that volcano ash can actually slow down rising sea levels. Volcanoes have the unique ability to cover the atmosphere with ash or aerosols. This prevents the world’s oceans from absorbing direct sunlight and essentially cooling down its water temperature. The researchers concluded in their models that if Mt. Pinatubo had not erupted, there would have been a more drastic increase in sea level rise.
Volcanoes have the power to destroy like Baekdu Mountain and Mt. Vesuvius, but they can also save us from the problems we created. Mother Earth is trying to cool down with volcanic ash, so let’s do our part to go green and save our planet!
Simple Ways to Go Green:
1. Use less water.
2. Use public transportation, bike, or walk.
3. Use energy-efficient and cost-effective lightbulbs.
4. Reuse old items and remember to recycle!