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Why Volcanoes Are Responsible For Emitting and Removing Carbon Dioxide
Volcanoes are responsible for releasing and removing atmospheric carbon dioxide from the earth.
It is estimated that volcanoes can release up to 20 times more carbon dioxide than the earth’s atmosphere. The amount of gases emitted or removed depends on a number of factors. Some of them are the size of the volcano, the type of the volcano, the amount of lava produced, the amount of silt caused by the eruption and the type of soil and vegetation in the area.
Scientists are constantly monitoring volcanoes to determine the amount of emissions being produced. They also study the effects of the emissions on the environment. They determine the risks to the environment, using scientific information, on how the volcano is currently behaving (global warming).
Scientists monitor a volcano’s activity with the help of a satellite. If a volcano erupts, they can use data from the Global Volcanic Network (GNET), an interactive system that provides information on all active volcanoes. Satellite images show the location, size, and composition of the erupting volcano. It also shows where the new magma formed after the volcano erupted.
