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Title: 1991: Warmth, chill may follow

Abstract

Following 1990's record temperatures, last year ended as the second warmest ever recorded. But it might have set yet another record had it not been for the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. The layer of sun-blocking haze spewed by the Philippine volcano is sending a chill through the climate system that may already have shown up in the temperature record. This volcanic cooling, which could last a couple of years, should also temporarily chill the debate about whether the green house effect is behind the warming of recent years. It's been hard enough to draw firm conclusions about any greenhouse warming from world temperature data, and Pinatubo's masking effect should make it harder still during the next few years. But the cooling episode may advance the science of climate prediction indirectly. It will give scientists an opportunity to check out their computer greenhouse models by seeing how well they do at predicting the volcano-induced climate change.

Authors:
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
7015210
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 255:5042; Journal ID: ISSN 0036-8075
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY; GREENHOUSE EFFECT; FORECASTING; VOLCANOES; ERUPTION; AMBIENT TEMPERATURE; GLOBAL ASPECTS; PHILIPPINES; ASIA; CLIMATIC CHANGE; DEVELOPING COUNTRIES; ISLANDS; 540120* - Environment, Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-); 290301 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment, Health, & Safety- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects- (1992-)

Citation Formats

Kerr, R A. 1991: Warmth, chill may follow. United States: N. p., 1992. Web. doi:10.1126/science.255.5042.281.
Kerr, R A. 1991: Warmth, chill may follow. United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.255.5042.281
Kerr, R A. 1992. "1991: Warmth, chill may follow". United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.255.5042.281.
@article{osti_7015210,
title = {1991: Warmth, chill may follow},
author = {Kerr, R A},
abstractNote = {Following 1990's record temperatures, last year ended as the second warmest ever recorded. But it might have set yet another record had it not been for the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. The layer of sun-blocking haze spewed by the Philippine volcano is sending a chill through the climate system that may already have shown up in the temperature record. This volcanic cooling, which could last a couple of years, should also temporarily chill the debate about whether the green house effect is behind the warming of recent years. It's been hard enough to draw firm conclusions about any greenhouse warming from world temperature data, and Pinatubo's masking effect should make it harder still during the next few years. But the cooling episode may advance the science of climate prediction indirectly. It will give scientists an opportunity to check out their computer greenhouse models by seeing how well they do at predicting the volcano-induced climate change.},
doi = {10.1126/science.255.5042.281},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7015210}, journal = {Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)},
issn = {0036-8075},
number = ,
volume = 255:5042,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 17 00:00:00 EST 1992},
month = {Fri Jan 17 00:00:00 EST 1992}
}