The Tonga eruption cooled the Earth, say researchers

Much mystery surrounds the climate impact of the 2022 Hanga Tonga eruption.

It was initially speculated that this could lead to extreme global warming in 2023 and 2024.

However, Texas A&M University atmospheric scientist Dr. New research by a joint team with Andrew Tessler revealed that, like other large volcanic events, the eruption actually contributed to cooling the Earth.

Historically, large volcanic eruptions have had significant cooling effects on global climate by blocking sunlight with their aerosols, research suggests.

Cooling effect of volcanic eruptions

A remarkable two-day event in mid-January 2022 injected large amounts of volcanic aerosols and steam into the atmosphere.

Historically, a large volcano Explosions.

However, the eruption of Hanga Tonga presented a unique spectacle: as a submarine volcano, it introduced an unprecedented amount of water vapor into the stratosphere, increasing the total stratospheric water content by about 10%.

Because water vapor is a powerful greenhouse gas, the explosion cooled the Earth.

Their researchers analyzed satellite data observations of aerosols and water vapor to estimate the energy balance of Earth’s climate system.

In their analysis, the eruption resulted in more energy leaving the climate system than entering it, thus causing a slight cooling effect.

„Our paper casts doubt on the interpretation that 2023 and 2024 caused extreme warming,” Tessler explained. Instead, we should focus primarily on greenhouse gases from human activities, the main cause of warming, with a big help from the ongoing El Niño.

Future research

According to Tessler, this research has important implications for scientists and the general public.

By ruling out volcanic eruptions as a major driver of recent warming, the team’s study reinforces its view that human-induced greenhouse gas emissions are the primary driver of climate change.

This focus is particularly relevant given the ongoing debate and misinformation about the causes of global warming.

Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of continued investment in satellite-based stratospheric measurements.

While the paper answers many important questions, Tessler admits that it simultaneously introduces new ones.

For example, researchers have highlighted some unresolved issues related to the Hanga Tonga eruption, such as the unexpected amount of sulfur dioxide produced by such a violent eruption and the minimal impact the 2023 eruption would have on the ozone hole.

The 2023 ozone hole represents a significant thinning of the ozone layer over Antarctica, allowing more harmful ultraviolet radiation to reach the Earth’s surface. Additionally, the persistence of water vapor in the stratosphere beyond what models predict suggests that much remains to be learned about stratospheric circulation processes.