The impact of volcanic eruptions on the air is significant and multifaceted. When a
volcano erupts, a large amount of gas, volcanic ash and particulate matter will be released into the atmosphere, which can spread far away with the wind and have a wide
impact on air quality and climate.
First of all, volcanic ash and particulate matter will reduce sunlight transmission in the atmosphere, resulting in a decrease in solar radiation obtained on the surface, which may cause the so-called "volcanic winter" effect, reduce ground temperature and affect crop growth and human life. For example, after the Yellowstone Supervolcano eruption in 1980,
a large amount of volcanic ash entered the atmosphere, causing the global average
temperature to drop by about 0.5 degrees Celsius.
Secondly, the gas released by the volcanic eruption, especially sulfur dioxide, will
react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid, which will reduce the
visibility of the atmosphere and may cause acid rain, which will have a long-term impact on the surface environment and ecosystem. For example, after the
eruption of Tambora volcano in Indonesia in 1915, many European countries were
seriously polluted by acid rain.
As for the specific air pollution index (AQI), it needs to be comprehensively evaluated according to the actual volcanic eruption scale, duration, wind direction and geographical location. Large-scale volcanic eruptions, such as Yellowstone Supervolcano or Tambora Volcano,
whose volcanic ash and gas will seriously reduce air quality, leading to a surge in AQI and pose a great threat to human health.
Scientific data show that particulate matter and gases produced by volcanic eruptions can be suspended in the atmosphere for months or even years, during which these
substances will be brought to all corners of the world with the flow of air. For example, before the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the activity of undersea volcanic eruptions
was monitored. Although there was no direct evidence that the tsunami was related
to air pollution, the material released by the undersea volcanic eruption entered the
atmosphere, increasing the content of suspended particulate matter in the
atmosphere.
In general, the impact of volcanic eruptions on the air is complex. It not only affects
local air quality, but may also affect the global climate and environment through
atmospheric circulation. Due to the relatively low scale and frequency of volcanic
eruptions, these effects are usually considered short-lived, but with the impact of global climate change and human activities on the
environment, the potential impact of volcanic eruptions cannot be ignored.
