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From: Whitney Chenoweth
Date: 10/8/02
Time: 11:48:07 PM
Remote Name: 66.20.68.80
Here are a few causal chains that I have come up with. If I can help in any other way please let me know.
E>H>A>L The presence of airborne material from Mt. Pinatubo's eruption affects the water cycle which causes the climate to get warmer thus speeding up the global water cycle. These higher temperatures cause more evaporation and the soils tend to dry out faster.
E>A>H The slight decrease in global temperatures in the few years following a volcanic eruption is caused by the presence of aerosols in the atmosphere. The effects of this can cause increased rain and snowfall.
E>A>H The eruption of volcanoes causes vog (volcanic fog). Inside the volcano, where pressure is very high, SO2 is dissolved into magma. When it rises toward the surface, the SO2 escapes. When sulfur dioxide is mixed with oxygen and water (moisture) in the atmosphere vog is produced. The aerosols in vog are composed of sulfuric acid and other sulfate compounds. When this is combined with the moisture in the atmosphere, tiny sulfuric droplets are formed and fall as acid rain.
H>B>H All life depends on water to survive. When the water is contaminated with ash and debris the remaining animals will have little to drink. As a result, they become dehydrated and eventually die if they do not find another source of water. The death of these animals causes an increase in organic material which increases bacteria and further decreases the amount of O2 in the water.