Final answer:
A volcanic eruption can cause temporary cooling of Earth's mean surface temperature through the haze-effect cooling, which reflects sunlight back to space. This short-term climate influence contrasts with the long-term warming effect due to the greenhouse effect, which is sustained by gases like CO2 and H2O in the atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
A volcanic eruption can influence Earth's mean surface temperature by releasing various gases and solids into the atmosphere, which can have a cooling effect known as the haze-effect cooling. When volcanoes, like those in Iceland in 1783, emit large amounts of sulfur dioxide, these aerosols can reflect sunlight back to space and cool the Earth's surface. This cooling is typically a short-term effect, lasting a few years, as volcanic particles remain in the atmosphere for a much shorter time than greenhouse gases (GHGs).
The greenhouse effect on Earth, primarily due to CO2 and H2O, keeps our planet's surface temperature approximately 40°C higher than it would be without an atmosphere. However, the sudden input of light-reflecting particles from volcanic eruptions can temporarily disrupt this balance, leading to lower global temperatures.
It is important to note that the cooling effect from a single volcanic eruption does not lead to long-term climate change because the particles do not remain as long in the atmosphere as GHGs do. Nonetheless, significant volcanic activity can lead to noticeable changes in climate and temperature over short-term periods.