Did volcanic eruptions cause global warming rather then mankind?
Volcanic eruptions are a small factor in climate change and they are not unidirectional. Emission of carbon dioxide contributes to the greenhouse effect. In contrast, the blasting of dust into the air blocks sunlight and has a cooling effect. When Krakatoa exploded (1883, as I recall), it threw a great deal of volcanic ash into the air and the ash was distributed worldwide. It led to “the year without a summer”. On the bright side, I understand that sunsets were spectacular for many months because of the dust.
In the short haul they will cause cooling. Here is one example caused by the eruption of Mount Tambora. My great grandfather who was born in 1857 said this was still talked about when he was a boy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_Withou… My feeling is, based on reading, that water vapor holds the heat given off by the earth so it’s no one’s fault. Earth is 2/3 water and this varies over long periods of time due to plate tectonics. When the area of water is high = more water vapor = more heat retained and vicey versy. Right now we are actually sitting pretty as we are in a relief period from the last ice age. Based on the last three major ice ages we have 250+ million years til the next one, and yes, we will gradually warm but the amount for the next 1000 generations will be tolerable and might even be beneficial to plants and animals, including humans.
Absolutely, however the largest contributer to global warming is the SUN. And methane is a gas that has a greater effect on global warming than carbon dioxide. The largest contributer of methane to the atmosphere is wet lands and swamps. Also: What is the ideal temperature of the earth, in the history of its existence, for sustaining live? A little over 1 degree fahrenheit in the past 100 years is nothing get alarmed about. Energy efficiency will come by the free market if congress allows the progress to develop. Passing the CAP IN TRADE bill, according to the E.P.A. (our own federal environmental agency), will increase gas by $1.43, make your energy bill increase by 44%! Any increase in taxes or fees to companies that produce energy, oil companies and utilities, will PASS THE ADDED COST TO THE CONSUMER. Our government is going to take hundreds of billions of dollars from companies and investments, run it through Washington and vote buying programs in hopes of stopping an “impending do
