2022 Tonga Eruption Pierced a Hole, in Earth’s Ozone Layer, , Study Says.
'Newsweek' reports that the 2022 eruption
of the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Haapai volcano
blasted a hole in the Earth's ozone layer. .
According to a new study published in the journal
'Science,' the chunk taken out of the Earth's protective
barrier was caused by water vapor from the eruption. .
On January 15 of 2022, the explosive eruption on the
island of Tonga released 100,000 times more energy
than the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. .
'Newsweek' reports that the new study found
the ozone layer above some regions was depleted
by up to 5% within a single week of the eruption.
'Newsweek' reports that the new study found
the ozone layer above some regions was depleted
by up to 5% within a single week of the eruption.
The impact on the atmosphere was caused by huge amounts
of water, black ash, hydrochloric acid (HCI) and sulfur
dioxide forming towering 34-meter-high plumes of vapor.
Usually there are roughly
four million water molecules
per million in the stratosphere,
and the volcanic plume
contained up to 300, Olaf Morgenstern, Principal atmosphere and
climatescientist at New Zealand's National Institute
of Water and Atmospherics (NIWA), via 'Newsweek'.
'Newsweek' reports that the vapor towers react
with other chemicals ejected by the volcano,
which resulted in a break down of the atmosphere
above the southwestern Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Major volcanic eruptions can
inject gases and particles into
the stratosphere (approximately
15-50 km [9.3 miles to 31 miles]
above Earth's surface) where
the protective ozone layer resides, Laura Revell, Associate professor of physical and chemical sciences at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, via 'Newsweek'.
It is fairly common to see
short-term ozone losses
following a major eruption
as a result of reactions involving
volcanic aerosol and chlorine, Laura Revell, Associate professor of physical and chemical sciences at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, via 'Newsweek'.
It is fairly common to see
short-term ozone losses
following a major eruption
as a result of reactions involving
volcanic aerosol and chlorine, Laura Revell, Associate professor of physical and chemical sciences at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, via 'Newsweek'.
'Newsweek' reports that the authors of the paper
hope their findings will help shed light on how natural
disasters impact the atmosphere and climate change.