Tonga volcano could cause unusual weather for rest of decade: study

  • June 3, 2024
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Tonga volcano could cause unusual weather for rest of decade: study

Sub: Geography

Sec: Geomorphology

Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Eruption:

  • Erupted on January 15, 2022, in Tonga.
    • Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai is a submarine volcano in the South Pacific located about 30 km (19 mi) south of the submarine volcano of Fonuafoʻou and 65 km (40 mi) north of Tongatapu, Tonga’s main island.
    • It is part of the highly active Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone and its associated volcanic arc, which extends from New Zealand north-northeast to Fiji and is formed by the subduction of the Pacific Plate under the Indo-Australian Plate.
    • It lies about 100 km (62 mi) above a very active seismic zone.
  • Consequences: Triggered a Pacific-wide tsunami and sent sound waves globally multiple times.
  • Study: New research in the Journal of Climate examines the eruption’s climate impacts.

A peculiar feature of Hunga Tonga- Hunga Ha’apai Eruption:

  • Typical Volcanic Smoke contains sulphur dioxide, leading to short-term cooling by forming sulphate aerosols that reflect sunlight.
  • But, Hunga Tonga’s eruption produced minimal smoke but released 100-150 million tonnes of water vapour into the stratosphere.
    • This amount of water vapour, unprecedented in volcanic eruptions, contributes to ozone layer depletion and acts as a potent greenhouse gas.

Key Findings:

  1. Ozone Hole: The eruption contributed to the unusually large ozone hole observed from August to December 2023.
  2. Wetter Summer 2024: The eruption led to an unexpectedly wet summer in 2024, despite predictions of a dry season due to El Niño.
  3. Future Weather Effects: Potential long-term impacts on winter weather patterns for several years.

Research Approach:

  • Stratospheric Impact:
    • Researchers used satellite data to monitor water vapour in the stratosphere.
    • Climate models simulated future scenarios with and without the water vapour from the eruption.
  • Findings:
    • Predicted ozone hole and weather impacts, such as wetter summers in Australia and varying winter patterns globally.
    • Small impact on global mean temperatures (0.015°C), indicating high recent temperatures are not due to the eruption.

Long-term Regional Impacts:

  • Australia: Colder and wetter winters in the northern region up to 2029.
  • North America: Warmer winters.
  • Scandinavia: Colder winters.

Source: TH

Geography Tonga volcano could cause unusual weather for rest of decade: study