Both volcanoes and humans emit greenhouse gases, which contributes the most to global warming and by a factor of approx how many.
For example, “humans contribute twice as much as volcanoes” or “volcanoes contribute three times as much as humans”.
2007-09-07 09:40:37 · 8 answers · asked by Trevor 7 in Environment ➔ Global Warming
Thanks to everyone who answered. Linlyons answers is spot on - detailed, accurate, factual and back up with a credible source.
To Mr Me and others who make similar comments - humans have produced 3.2 trillion tons of greenhouse gases, if this was solid volcanic material it would be a block 2000 cubic kilometres in size, enough to make a mountain larger than Everest.
The reason I asked this question in the first place is because the claims made by some skeptics in relation to volcanoes get progressively more extreme and the same claim is rarely made twice, I get the impression some skeptics are just writing the first thing that comes to mind.
2007-09-08 12:43:02 · update #1
volcanoes come in different sizes and so do people. So I'll answer your question this way: Suppose there was a very large volcano, say on the west side of the county. If the wind blew just right it could darken the entire country for a long time and even create another ice age, I'm told. Now how many humans covering that entire area would be one answer, but how many humans covering that entire area for a week or months would have to be calculated too...no?
2007-09-07 13:27:40 · answer #1 · answered by sophieb 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
linlyons answer sounds about right to me. The last comparison I have seen is an "average" volcanic eruption produces the same amount of CO2 as the output of 150,000 vehicles for one year.
There are 600,000,000 vehicles on this planet. That does not include industrial production of CO2.
Volcanoes are not big CO2 producers. The majority of the material expelled is rock (big surprise).
2007-09-07 10:07:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
I'm not exactly sure if this is true or not, but my college chemistry professor said that humans and volcanoes are the biggest contributors of CO2 and that total human CO2 emissions only equal about 10% of volcanic CO2 emissions. However, humans make it harder for nature to counteract these CO2 emissions.
2007-09-07 16:56:02 · answer #3 · answered by The Sh*t 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
If all the ignorant liberal democrats were to suddenly stop breathing, then they would stop exhaling CO2 and the world would be a better place.
Carbon footprints and carbon credits are bogus terms. Gore and friends are purchasing and selling carbon credits. There can be really be no sale of carbon credits if there has been no cap put on carbon emissions. The people of the U.S. are being raped by Gore. All of his push for a cleaner environment is about making himself and whoever pulls his strings richer. Isn't it obvious?
2007-09-07 12:43:26 · answer #4 · answered by Alan B 2 · 3⤊ 5⤋
But isn't the really important issue, at least for the skeptics, what does this work out to be in cow farts?
2007-09-07 10:02:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Nothing pollutes as much as humans do. People are the number one source of man made pollution!
We're killing the planet!
2007-09-07 12:28:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
One belch (no lava, no explosion, just a burp) from a volcano, releases more greenhouse gasses than mankind has throughout history
2007-09-07 09:52:55 · answer #7 · answered by Mr. Me 7 · 4⤊ 8⤋
what's his face(linlyons) is wrong
I think it was when Mount Saint Helens erupted it gave off more Carbon Dioxide(CO2) than man has ever made.
this video is about global warming in general http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6Wr1hcIp2U&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eprisonplanet%2Ecom%2Farticles%2Fmarch2007%2F130307doanything%2Ehtm
I suggest watching it and ignoring what "AL GORE" has to say. (my suggestion)
2007-09-07 10:23:59 · answer #8 · answered by King Man 2 · 2⤊ 7⤋