GS TIMES STAFF
According to the World Meteorological Organisation, the sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from LaSoufriere volcanic eruption in the Caribbean reached India April 16, 2021.
- This has raised the fear of increased pollution levels in the northern parts of the country and acid rain. Sulphur dioxide reacts with water to form sulphuric acid which can come down with rainfall.
- Sulfur dioxide near ground level can irritate the human nose and throat; higher in the atmosphere it can make sulfuric acid aerosols and, in extreme cases, lead to a cooling effect, says Kathryn Hansen, NASA Earth Observatory.
- La Soufrière volcano on St Vincent Island in the West Indies started erupting on April 9 after spewing out lava into a dome and threatening to erupt since December 2020. The last time the volcano had erupted was in 1979.
- Eruptions release rocks, heat, and gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur, acid, and water into the atmosphere.
- According to the NASA, volcanic eruptions of large magnitude can impact global climate, reducing the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface, lowering temperatures in the troposphere, and changing atmospheric circulation patterns.
- In addition to volcanoes’ direct physical danger, they can also lead to power outages, poor air quality, wildfires, and disruptions to aviation, says NASA.
(References: NASA articles on volcanic eruptions)
