| Subject: poor poor Curmudgeon.. |
Author:
sci guy
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Date Posted: 21:34:53 11/24/06 Fri
In reply to:
Curmudgeon
's message, "But, but, but -- they said SUV's were responsible." on 18:27:46 11/24/06 Fri
You DO realize that th article says that volcanoes COOL the earth, don't you?
>Can I get mhy donation back?
>
>
>
>>just when we thought we had the weather predictions
>>down. a new kink comes in to play. now we have space
>>weather, volcanic weather, fire weather, land mass
>>change weather.
>>
>>Volcanic eruptions on Iceland generated a cascade of
>>events that led to record low levels of water in the
>>Nile River in Africa and brought famine to the region
>>more than two centuries ago, a new study concludes.
>>
>>
>>
>>The findings will inform climate forecasting related
>>to future volcanic activity.
>>
>>
>>
>>From June 1783 through February 1784, a series of 10
>>eruptions from the Laki Craters on this European
>>island in the North Atlantic changed atmospheric
>>conditions in most of the Northern Hemisphere.
>>
>>
>>
>>Unusual temperature and precipitation patterns peaked
>>in the summer of 1783, causing below normal rainfall
>>in most of the Nile drainage basin and therefore
>>record low levels in the mighty river for up to one
>>year following the eruptions.
>>
>>
>>
>>When volcanic eruptions occur, large amounts of sulfur
>>dioxide are released into the atmosphere. When this
>>gas combines with water vapor, aerosol particles form.
>>These particles reflect sunlight back to space and
>>therefore cool average temperatures on Earth.
>>
>>
>>
>>Researchers used computer models to simulate how
>>Iceland’s Laki eruptions affected temperature and
>>rainfall levels over the stretch of land from the
>>Atlantic ocean to the “horn of Africa,” known as the
>>Sahel.
>>
>>
>>
>>Simulations showed that the aerosols formed by the
>>eruptions cooled average temperatures in the Northern
>>Hemisphere by up to 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Tree ring
>>data in Alaska and Siberia also showed reduced growth
>>during the same summer, signifying cooler than normal
>>weather.
>>
>>
>>
>>The abnormally cool temperatures reduced the
>>temperature difference between the land masses of
>>Africa and Eurasia and their respective water masses,
>>the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Typically, a sharp
>>contrast in temperature between land and sea drives
>>roaring monsoon winds. Monsoons are seasonal shifts in
>>wind direction that signify the beginning of the rainy
>>season.
>>
>>
>>
>>The lack of monsoons led to a reduction in cloud cover
>>over the Sahel of Africa, southern Arabian Peninsula
>>and India that summer. This caused temperatures to
>>increase by as much as 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit and
>>induced drought in the region. The resulting food
>>shortage reduced the population of the Nile Valley by
>>a sixth.
>>
>>
>>
>>"Some of the driest weather occurred over the Nile and
>>Niger River watersheds," said lead author Luke Oman, a
>>researcher from Rutgers University, NJ. "The relative
>>lack of cloud cover and increased temperature likely
>>amplified evaporation, further lessening water
>>available for run-off."
>>
>>
>>
>>This dry weather corresponded with record low river
>>water levels from 1783 to 1784.
>>
>>
>>
>>“These findings may help us improve our predictions of
>>climate response following the next strong
>>high-latitude eruption, specifically concerning
>>changes in temperature and precipitation," Oman said.
>>"Many societies are very dependent on seasonal
>>precipitation for their livelihoods, and these
>>predictions may ultimately allow communities time to
>>plan for consequences, including impacts on regional
>>food and water supplies."
>>
>>
>>href="http://www.livescience.com/environment/061121_er
>u
>>ptions_nile.html">http://www.livescience.com/environme
>n
>>t/061121_eruptions_nile.html
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