The Underestimated Impact of Volcanic Eruptions on Earth's Climate.

The cooling effect of volcanic eruptions on Earth's surface temperature is likely underestimated by a factor of two to four in standard climate projections, according to a study led by the University of Cambridge. Small-magnitude eruptions are responsible for as much as half of all sulfur gases emitted into the upper atmosphere by volcanoes. The researchers generated 1,000 different scenarios of future volcanic activity and found that the impacts of volcanic eruptions on climate, including global surface temperature, sea level, and sea ice extent, are underestimated because current climate projections largely overlook the effects of small-magnitude eruptions.