Tonga's Volcanic Eruption Alters Stratosphere, Minimal Surface Cooling
• The 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption injected 146 teragrams of water vapor into the stratosphere, cooling it by 0.5-1°C.
• The eruption produced the tallest volcanic plume ever recorded, reaching 35.4 miles high.
• Surface temperatures showed minimal cooling (0.05°C) despite significant upper-atmosphere disruptions.
Unprecedented atmospheric effects from Hunga Tonga eruption
A recent scientific assessment of the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption reveals unprecedented effects on the atmosphere. Unlike typical eruptions that release sulfur dioxide and warm the stratosphere, this event injected approximately 146 teragrams of water vapor into the stratosphere, leading to a cooling effect of 0.5 to 1 degree Celsius (0.9 to 1.8°F).
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