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Perturbations in stratospheric aerosol evolution due to the water-rich plume of the 2022 Hunga-Tonga eruption

Earth Sciences

Perturbations in stratospheric aerosol evolution due to the water-rich plume of the 2022 Hunga-Tonga eruption

Y. Zhu, C. G. Bardeen, et al.

Discover the groundbreaking findings of researchers Yunqian Zhu and colleagues as they reveal how the January 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption significantly altered stratospheric conditions by injecting unprecedented amounts of water, ultimately impacting climate systems until October 2022.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
The January 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption injected a relatively small amount of sulfur dioxide, but significantly more water into the stratosphere than previously seen in the modern satellite record. This paper shows that the large amount of water resulted in large perturbations to stratospheric aerosol evolution. A climate model simulation reproduces the observed enhanced water vapor, which increases hydroxide and halves the sulfur dioxide lifetime. Subsequent coagulation creates larger sulfate particles, doubling the stratospheric aerosol optical depth. The eruption will enhance aerosol surface area and water vapor near the polar vortex until at least October 2022, impacting the climate system.
Publisher
Communications Earth & Environment
Published On
Oct 22, 2022
Authors
Yunqian Zhu, Charles G. Bardeen, Simone Tilmes, Michael J. Mills, Xinyue Wang, V. Lynn Harvey, Ghassan Taha, Douglas Kinnison, Robert W. Portmann, Pengfei Yu, Karen H. Rosenlof, Melody Avery, Corinna Kloss, Can Li, Anne S. Glanville, Luis Millán, Terry Deshler, Nickolay Krotkov, Owen B. Toon
Tags
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai
volcanic eruption
stratospheric water vapor
aerosol evolution
climate impact
sulfur dioxide
aerosol optical depth
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