Volcanin Ash on Skadrial

[Peregrin Pelerin]

What do you think about the Volcanic Activity as a Cooling Mechanism on Skadrial, in the first series of Mistborn?

Because, from my POV, Volcanic eruptions create an ash layer to block sunlight and cool the planet, activity which can temporarily cool a planet by releasing aerosols and particulates that reflect sunlight (e.g., the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo cooled Earth slightly for a few years).

BUT, Long-term volcanic activity, however, can release greenhouse gases like CO₂, which would contribute to warming rather than cooling!!!

 

 

[alder24]

11 minutes ago, Peregrin Pelerin said:

What do you think about the Volcanic Activity as a Cooling Mechanism on Skadrial, in the first series of Mistborn?

Because, from my POV, Volcanic eruptions create an ash layer to block sunlight and cool the planet, activity which can temporarily cool a planet by releasing aerosols and particulates that reflect sunlight (e.g., the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo cooled Earth slightly for a few years).

BUT, Long-term volcanic activity, however, can release greenhouse gases like CO₂, which would contribute to warming rather than cooling!!!

Does 1000 years count as a long period of time on a geological scale or not? For example the Siberian Traps, which caused the Great Dying - the biggest extinction event in  Earth's history - were erupting for 2 million years and covered a region equivalent to 2/3 of continental US, so I think 7 small volcanoes erupting mainly ash over just 1000 year long period is not enough to cause a significant greenhouse effect on Scadrial.

Also, keep in mind that the Ashmunts were specifically designed by Rashek to dump tons of ash into the atmosphere when he held the power of the Well. He could have designed them in such a way to limit the emission of greenhouse gases to minimum. I think that's your answer.

[Peregrin Pelerin]

to alder24: thank you for your answer;

You bring up a good point about the geological timescale, and I do agree that 1,000 years might not seem like a very long time from that perspective;

Still, for me, 

the idea that 1,000 years wouldn’t be enough time to cause significant warming. While the immediate effects of ash from the Ashmounts would definitely lead to rapid cooling, the greenhouse effect could begin to take hold over the course of a few decades as volcanic gases, especially CO₂ and methane, build up in the atmosphere. Although 1,000 years may seem short, it’s long enough for the gases to accumulate and for the warming trend to become noticeable, especially if Rashek’s design didn’t fully limit the release of those gases.

So, while the Ashmounts were primarily intended to produce ash and limit sunlight, I think it’s still possible that after several centuries (perhaps even as early as 1,000 years), the buildup of greenhouse gases could have started to trigger warming. While the eruptions over 1,000 years may not be on the same scale as the Siberian Traps, the cumulative effect of these gases could still lead to a significant greenhouse effect by the end of that period.

But hey, we’re enjoying a fantasy book, not a scientific one, so I’m pretty okay with the author’s POV and yours ! Journey before destination!!!!    THANK YOU