Summary 13

Barnett A. Settling of dust warms tropical Atlantic. Nature [Internet]. 2009 Mar 26 [cited 2009 Sept 29]; doi:10.1038/news.2009.194 Available from: http://www.nature.com.mutex.gmu.edu/news/2009/090326/full/news.2009.194.html

Scientists have discovered a new possibility as to why we are seeing increased ocean surface temperatures and more hurricanes. Previously, we believed that this was either a natural earth cycle or that it is due to global warming. Now there is some evidence that the aerosols emitted by volcanic eruptions and African winds normally keep the global temperatures down and the tropical North Atlantic in particular.
As recently as the 1980’s there were increased levels of volcanic dust particles. As these particles have been settling through the 1990’s we have been seeing increases in ocean temperatures. This is going to add additional controversy to an already volatile debate. Scientists are looking into the possible effects of volcanic eruptions on temperatures in other ocean areas. They are also very interested in Africa’s dust which is the world’s largest source of dust. How does it affect global temperatures, and how will climate change affect the amount of dust being produced? At this point scientists are watching how these factors interact and change each other. Dust may play either a positive or negative role in moderating our global climate.