The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai eruption in January 2022 injected water and gases into the stratosphere on a scale not seen in the last century. The plume then produced a chemical effect that removed atmospheric methane. That observation challenges the assumption that volcanoes only warm or cool the climate.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Did the Hunga Tonga eruption remove methane from the atmosphere?
- A: Yes, scientists observed the 2022 eruption’s stratospheric plume chemically removed methane on an unprecedented scale.
- Q: How does a volcanic plume decompose methane?
- A: Water and gases injected into the stratosphere triggered chemical reactions that oxidized methane, revealing a natural atmospheric self-cleaning effect.
- Q: Does this mean volcanoes cool the climate?
- A: Not simply. The finding shows volcanoes can also alter greenhouse gases like methane, complicating their climate impact beyond warming or cooling.