Question

Which of the following is an example of a natural process that created long-term global warming?

a) ash eruptions from the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption

b)emission of sulfur dioxide gas from the 1982 El Chichón eruption

c)emission of carbon dioxide from sustained volcanic eruptions during the Cretaceous

d)decreased frequency of sunspots

e)aerosols erupting into the atmosphere from the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora

Answer 1

Emission of carbon dioxide from sustained volcanic eruptions during the Cretaceous period is an example of a natural process that led to long-term global warming due to the lengthy atmospheric residence time of greenhouse gases.

Step-by-step explanation:

An example of a natural process that created long-term global warming is c) emission of carbon dioxide from sustained volcanic eruptions during the Cretaceous period.

Unlike short-lived volcanic events which typically cool the climate by releasing particles that block sunlight and cause haze-effect cooling, long-term emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide can lead to a warming of the planet.

This is because greenhouse gases, once in the atmosphere, can remain there for extended periods, trapping heat and resulting in an overall increase in global temperatures.