Volcanoes erupt emitting particles and gases into the atmosphere thus affecting the earth’s climate. These particles and gases like Sulphur dioxide and ash may have a cooling effect on the earth’s surfaces since they block sunlight from reaching the earth. Others like carbon dioxide contributes to global warming due to the greenhouse effect. The effects of these climate changes can be observed in regions such as Antarctica and Egypt, (Robock, 2000). A recent study has shown that these eruptions were the cause of rain fails along the Nile, as written by Craig Welch.
Having reported in all seven continents, Craig Welch is known for his environment articles in National Geographic. He had been a reporter at The Seattle Times for about 14 years before leaving for National Geographic. The husband and father has been named an outstanding beat reporter of the year twice by the Society of Environmental Journalists. He has also supported a five-part series on ocean acidification with his photographer Steve Ringman. The series has won a number of nominations and awards including the Online Communication Award. He has since written his first book, Shell Games, a story about conmen, cops and the smuggling of America’s strangest wildlife.
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In this most recent article, How Volcanoes Caused Violent Uprisings in Cleopatra's Egypt , Craig explains how it is hard to ignore the effects of volcanic eruptions to climate change. He focuses on the ancient Egypt where the farmers were highly dependent on the annual monsoon rains. Heavy downfall pushed the waters of the Nile downstream enabling these Egyptian farmers to prepare land for planting. However, volcanic eruptions, as recorded in ice cores from Antarctica caused rains to fail in the Nile.
As explained earlier, the emissions of sulfurous gases not only causes a cooling effect on the atmosphere by blocking sunlight but can also cause monsoon rains to fail even for years, (Welch, 2017). Research shows that the eruptions, whose origin cannot be clearly depicted, had a great impact on Egypt as they reduced the rains in the Nile making it difficult for any cultivation to take place. These rainfall fails can be also attributed to Egyptian citizens selling their barren lands as the poor yields left them in tax debts. The two decades that followed after Cleopatra’s reign were characterized with low volcanic eruptions, causing rains to be felt in the Nile leading to the building of dams by Egyptians to preserve water. However, questions arise as to how the world today, which is mostly dependent on monsoon rains, is preparing for future generations if the volcanoes erupt again. It is important to note that the effects of the volcanic eruptions are not immediate. Rather they are felt at a later period in time.
If at all Craig’s research holds then we can also peg the effects of global warming on volcanic eruptions, an issue affecting every individual on earth currently. Since the effects are felt later, it is true to say that this generation is feeling the effects of eruption that happened in the 20 th century, with the most recent being in the year 1991. There has been a shift of rain patterns calling for drastic measures to harness water for consumption. Needless to say, we should also come up with long-term solutions of the disruption of climate if the eruptive season were to occur again.
References
Robock, A. (2000). Volcanic eruptions and climate. Reviews of Geophysics , 38 (2), 191-219.
Welch, C. (2017, October 17). How Volcanoes Caused Violent Uprisings in Cleopatra's Egypt. National Geographic . Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/10/volcanoes-Nile-flood-climate-Egypt/
