#2 This report sheds light on a paradox that has been bothering me for a while. We know that volcanic eruptions cool the climate becuase the ash reflects sunlight back into space as the image above clearly shows, while at the same time we know from the geological record that the climate warms during periods of increased volcanic activity. Volcanic activity has been on a clear uptrend for the last 50 years and the article says that has resulted in increased water vapour in the atmosphere (by 1% per annum which is a lot). We also know that water vapour is a more important greenhouse gas than CO2. It looks to me like we might have found the primary driver of short to medium term climate change. |