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Stratospheric Climate Anomalies and Ozone Loss Caused by the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Volcanic Eruption

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2023jd039480· OSTI ID:2223033
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [2];  [4];  [2];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [5];  [5];  [5];  [1]
  1. University of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
  2. National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Boulder, CO (United States)
  3. University of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Boulder, CO (United States)
  4. Hampton University, Hampton, VA (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  5. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK (Canada)
+ Show Author Affiliations
We report the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai (HTHH) volcanic eruption in January 2022 injected unprecedented amounts of water vapor (H2O) and a moderate amount of the aerosol precursor sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the Southern Hemisphere (SH) tropical stratosphere. The H2O and aerosol perturbations have persisted during 2022 and early 2023 and dispersed throughout the atmosphere. Observations show large-scale SH stratospheric cooling, equatorward shift of the Antarctic polar vortex and slowing of the Brewer-Dobson circulation. Satellite observations show substantial ozone reductions over SH winter midlatitudes that coincide with the largest circulation anomalies. Chemistry-climate model simulations forced by realistic HTHH inputs of H2O and SO2 qualitatively reproduce the observed evolution of the H2O and aerosol plumes over the first year, and the model exhibits stratospheric cooling, circulation changes and ozone effects similar to observed behavior. The agreement demonstrates that the observed stratospheric changes are caused by the HTHH volcanic influences.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR); National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
2223033
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-856205; 1085679
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 128; ISSN 2169-897X
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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