Photos Show Eruption at Mauna Loa, World’s Largest Active Volcano

The false idea that volcanoes release enormous amounts of carbon dioxide has been a popular meme among climate deniers for years. It’s true that volcanic activity causes an increase in atmospheric CO2 levels. But this contribution is absolutely minuscule compared to what we’re doing to the planet: NASA estimates that human activity creates the equivalent amount of CO2 as a Mount St. Helens-size eruption once every two and a half hours (!).

“Volcanoes erupt all the time,” Phoenix said. “There’s about 45 volcanoes erupting right now as we speak. It’s totally normal. Because we have this constant state of eruptions, people always say, oh, volcanoes produce so much CO2. But the Earth is used to this.”

Some volcanic eruptions, in fact, can have the reverse effect: particles from the eruption block out some sunlight and actually help lower temperatures. Some enormous explosions from the past, including Mount Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991, were responsible for cooling the Earth for a number of years after the explosion.

“Their eruptions produce particles that actually insulate us from the sun and help cool temperatures, which we see with those giant eruptions from the past. “Mauna Loa is not going to be like that,” Phoenix said. “The hazard we’re going to see is to folks living in the path of any potential lava flows.”

The false idea that volcanoes release enormous amounts of carbon dioxide has been a popular meme among climate deniers for years. It’s true that volcanic activity causes an increase in atmospheric CO2 levels. But this contribution is absolutely minuscule compared to what we’re doing to the planet: NASA estimates that human activity creates the equivalent amount of CO2 as a Mount St. Helens-size eruption once every two and a half hours (!).

“Volcanoes erupt all the time,” Phoenix said. “There’s about 45 volcanoes erupting right now as we speak. It’s totally normal. Because we have this constant state of eruptions, people always say, oh, volcanoes produce so much CO2. But the Earth is used to this.”

Some volcanic eruptions, in fact, can have the reverse effect: particles from the eruption block out some sunlight and actually help lower temperatures. Some enormous explosions from the past, including Mount Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991, were responsible for cooling the Earth for a number of years after the explosion.

“Their eruptions produce particles that actually insulate us from the sun and help cool temperatures, which we see with those giant eruptions from the past. “Mauna Loa is not going to be like that,” Phoenix said. “The hazard we’re going to see is to folks living in the path of any potential lava flows.”