Volcanoes produce cooling sulphate particles, but do we make them, too?
Yes we do. Ironically, burning fossil fuels produces sulphate particles. These particles – which make acid rain – help to shield industrialised countries from global warming’s full impact. In some places, such as central Europe and parts of China, they may have even produce a net cooling effect. Dust from soil erosion and desertification can also curb local warming effects. But even if you are comfortable with the idea of using one form of pollution to protect us from another, there is a problem. Whereas the average CO2 molecule in the atmosphere lasts for about a century, sulphates and their like persist for only a few days. If you turned down the power stations, the world would get much hotter within a few days. So sulphates are not a solution.
