From Cambridge University, Dr. Analyzes conducted under the coordination of Thomas J. Aubry showed that the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption, which occurred in January 2022, attracted attention not only with its destructive power but also with the extraordinary chemical effect it created in the atmosphere.
According to data published in Nature Communications, unusual concentrations of formaldehyde were detected by the European satellite TROPOMI as the cloud formed after the explosion moved across the Pacific towards South America. Formaldehyde is not a substance normally encountered in the stratosphere; It is considered a chemical trace resulting from the breakdown of methane.
Methane broke down over a week
According to the study, the explosion carried millions of tons of seawater and ash directly into the stratosphere. Under the influence of sunlight, this mixture gave rise to highly reactive chlorine atoms.
These chlorine atoms attacked the methane molecules and broke them apart. Thus, the lifespan of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, in the atmosphere was shortened.
Methane remains in the atmosphere for a shorter time than carbon dioxide, but its short-term heat retention capacity is much higher. Therefore, the faster breakdown of methane is considered an important finding in terms of climate.
However, the picture is not entirely positive.
According to scientists, this discovery opens a new discussion about how greenhouse gases can be reduced through natural processes. But the Hunga Tonga eruption also transported large amounts of water vapor into the stratosphere. This water vapor is seen as an element that can work in the opposite direction and increase the greenhouse effect.
The big question for researchers is: Is it possible to reduce methane by mimicking this chemical process in nature, or could such an intervention upset the delicate balance of the atmosphere?
