Volcanic eruption cloud broke down stratospheric methane, study suggests

The short version

• Satellite observations after the January 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption revealed a chemical process in the stratosphere that destroyed emitted methane.[ScienceDaily]
• Researchers detected formaldehyde in the plume, indicating that a combination of ash, seawater, and sunlight continuously broke down methane for over a week.[ScienceDaily]
• The volcano released about 300 gigagrams of methane while the plume removed roughly 900 megagrams per day.[ScienceDaily]
• Scientists suggest the mechanism could refine global methane accounting, though any potential application to curb global warming requires safety validation.[ScienceDaily]

Key facts

• The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted beneath the South Pacific in January 2022.[ScienceDaily]
• The eruption released an estimated 300 gigagrams of methane into the atmosphere.[ScienceDaily]
• The volcanic plume destroyed roughly 900 megagrams of methane per day during the event.[ScienceDaily]
• Study results regarding the plume's chemical reactions were published in Nature Communications.[ScienceDaily]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Scientists stunned as volcano cloud starts destroying methaneScienceDaily - Environment