The Mauna Loa volcano erupted on November 27th , and while this didn't surprise scientists given the frequent volcanic activity in the region, it has raised concerns about whether its carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions could exacerbate climate change . As one of the world's largest and most active volcanoes, its impact is being closely monitored.
While historical eruptions of Mauna Loa have produced constant emissions of CO₂, the question is whether this could have a significant effect on global atmospheric carbon dioxide and, ultimately, on global warming. This question leads us to analyze in depth the local and global impact of these emissions, as well as the work scientists are doing to measure and understand this phenomenon from the Mauna Loa Observatory.
Carbon dioxide and climate change
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a vital gas for maintaining Earth's temperature within habitable limits, but the increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations attributed to human activity has become one of the main drivers of climate change. In this context, volcanic eruptions, such as that of Mauna Loa, also release substantial amounts of gases into the atmosphere, affecting both the local environment and the global atmospheric composition.
Volcanic eruptions release not only CO₂ but also other gases such as sulfur dioxide (SO₂) , which can contribute to the formation of aerosols in the atmosphere. These aerosols, instead of warming the planet in the long term as CO₂ does, tend to reflect sunlight and cause a temporary cooling effect at local and regional levels. However, this dynamic is temporary and limited.
Volcanic carbon dioxide is different from anthropogenic emissions, as it comes from geological activity, not the burning of fossil fuels. Globally, volcanoes contribute approximately 200 million tons of CO₂ annually, a figure that is insignificant compared to the 24.000 billion tons emitted by human activities. That is, although eruptions can locally alter the composition of atmospheric gases, their global effect is limited.
One point that often confuses the public is the magnitude of volcanic emissions versus industrial ones. Although Mauna Loa may seem gigantic in size and impact, human activities generate up to 120 times more CO₂ annually, placing the debate about the impact of volcanic CO₂ in a global perspective.
Mauna Loa emissions and their effect on measurements
The Mauna Loa Observatory is a key site for measuring atmospheric CO₂ concentration due to its remote location and minimal influence from local pollution sources. For more than six decades, measurements from this observatory have been used to study global greenhouse gas trends. Measurements initiated in 1958 by scientist Charles David Keeling led to the creation of the famous Keeling Curve , a graphical representation of the increasing level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over time.
The Mauna Loa Observatory sits at an altitude of over 3.400 meters (XNUMX feet) atop an active volcano. This unique location allows scientists to make measurements in clean air and without immediate influences from the Earth’s surface, ensuring that the data collected is representative of global atmospheric CO₂ concentrations.
A major challenge during eruptions like the one in 2022 is that measurements can be disrupted. Volcanic activity near the observatory has made data collection difficult, with lava flows cutting off access routes and prompting the need for temporary evacuations. In fact, the observatory has stopped recording data since November 28, which has affected the collection of daily information on carbon dioxide concentrations in the air.
However, in the long term, eruptions are not a threat to the background data. During previous eruptions, such as the one in 1984, the team has been able to fine-tune the data to filter out any interference caused by local volcanic gases. Most of the annual measurements remain representative and continue to reflect trends in global CO₂ concentrations, underscoring the importance of the work done at Mauna Loa.
The role of volcanic carbon dioxide in climate change
There are concerns about whether the CO₂ emitted by the Mauna Loa eruption could have more pronounced effects on climate change. Although volcanoes do emit CO₂, their emissions represent less than 1% of those generated by humanity, making their impact negligible in comparison. Volcanic emissions do not contribute significantly to long-term global warming, as anthropogenic emissions remain the largest driver of climate change.
The dynamics of volcanoes as gas emitters are complex. While individual events such as the Mauna Loa eruption may appear visually striking, their long-term effects on the global climate are limited. In contrast, human activities remain the primary force behind climate change. This type of analysis allows us to contextualize natural events versus human activities, providing a more balanced and less alarmist view of volcanic impact.
An interesting aspect is that Mauna Loa contributes to understanding how localized CO₂ affects the environment due to meteorological conditions, but the real concern for scientists remains the burning of fossil fuels. Events such as the current eruption are insignificant on a global level. It is important to remember that, over the last century, the trend of atmospheric carbon dioxide has been on a steady rise, driven mainly by industrialization and the massive use of fossil fuels.
Interruptions in global measurements
The damage caused by the eruption has not only affected human life and the local geography; the observatory has also had to stop data collection. Despite this, NOAA stated that the temporary interruptions will not alter the background results, as there are other stations, such as those at Izaña in Tenerife or Barrow in Alaska, that continue to collect representative data. While direct measurements at Mauna Loa have been halted, data collected by other stations ensure that the global CO₂ trend continues to be monitored.
The Mauna Loa eruption and other recent ones, such as Mount Etna in Italy and Kilauea, have helped scientists improve their monitoring methods and learn more about the interactions between volcanic eruptions and the global atmosphere. In particular, data collected during past eruptions have been used to improve climate models, which is crucial for predicting future changes in the global climate. These advances in atmospheric science continue to enrich our understanding of the impact of volcanic events over time.
In essence, although the Mauna Loa eruption has temporarily affected observatory operations, the network of global atmospheric stations ensures that the data set remains robust and representative of long-term trends. International collaboration, the use of advanced scientific models, and constant improvement in data collection methods reinforce the value of these studies for our future generations.
Through these recent examples and phenomena we can see how volcanic events, although dramatic and iconic, represent only a minimal contribution to the overall picture of climate change. The real battle remains the reduction of anthropogenic emissions and the move towards sustainable forms of energy.