Eruption led to tropical stratospheric cooling of nearly 4 K in March and April.
Findings challenge assumption that Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption contributed significantly to extreme global warmth in 2023 and 2024.
In January 2022, Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted, injecting water vapor and aerosols into the atmosphere.
Volcanic aerosols can reduce solar radiative forcing and cause temperature decreases for years.
In January 2022, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted, injecting vast amounts of water vapor and volcanic aerosols into the Earth's atmosphere. Contrary to initial assumptions, this event contributed to cooling the Earth rather than contributing to global warming. The team of researchers from Texas A&M University, Science and Technology Corporation, NASA, and NOAA analyzed satellite data observations and revealed that more energy left the climate system than entered it during this time period.
Historically, large volcanic eruptions have had significant cooling effects on the global climate by blocking sunlight with their aerosols. The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption introduced an unprecedented amount of water vapor into the stratosphere, increasing total stratospheric water content by about 10%. This led to a tropical stratospheric cooling of nearly 4 K in March and April.
Volcanic aerosols can reduce solar radiative forcing and cause observable decreases in tropospheric temperatures for years. The researchers noted that the presence of these volcanic aerosols could lead to changes in stratospheric water vapor and climate forcing, as well as ozone depletion and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions.
The team's findings challenge the assumption that the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption played a significant role in the extreme global warmth observed in 2023 and 2024. The researchers emphasized the importance of considering diverse sources and perspectives when analyzing climate data.
The Hunga Tonga volcano erupted in mid-January 2022, injecting vast amounts of volcanic aerosols and water vapor into the atmosphere.
As a submarine volcano, Hunga Tonga introduced an unprecedented amount of water vapor into the stratosphere, increasing total stratospheric water content by about 10%.
The eruption actually contributed to cooling the Earth, similar to other major volcanic events.
The team's paper reveals that the energy balance of the Earth's climate system indicated more energy leaving the system than entering it, inducing a slight cooling effect.
Hunga Tonga volcano eruption injected vast amounts of volcanic aerosols and water vapor into the atmosphere
Historically, large volcanic eruptions have had significant cooling effects on the global climate by blocking sunlight with their aerosols
Hunga Tonga's eruption introduced an unprecedented amount of water vapor into the stratosphere, increasing total stratospheric water content by about 10%
The eruption resulted in more energy leaving the climate system than entering it, thereby inducing a slight cooling effect
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The author makes several valid statements about the cooling effect of volcanic eruptions and provides evidence from research to support his claims. He correctly identifies that large volcanic eruptions have historically blocked sunlight with aerosols and cooled the Earth. The author also accurately reports that Hunga Tonga's unique scenario involved an unprecedented amount of water vapor being introduced into the stratosphere, which increased total stratospheric water content and contributed to cooling. However, there is one instance of an appeal to authority fallacy when Dessler states that 'human-induced greenhouse gas emissions are the primary driver of climate change.' While Dessler is an atmospheric scientist and his research supports this claim, it does not make it a fact. The author could have instead reported the findings without making such a definitive statement.
][The researchers] cast doubt on the explanation that the eruption caused the extreme warmth of 2023 and 2024.[/...],
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted on January 15, 2022
Water vapor injection was estimated to be approximately 146 Tg or nearly 10% of total stratospheric water vapor
Presence of water vapor led to a tropical stratospheric cooling of nearly 4 K in March and April
Volcanic aerosols can reduce solar radiative forcing and cause observable decrease in tropospheric temperatures for years
Accuracy
The eruption injected significant amount of water vapor into the tropical Southern Hemisphere mid-stratosphere
The eruption actually contributed to cooling the Earth, similar to other major volcanic events
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
No formal fallacies were found in the article. However, there is an example of a dichotomous depiction and an appeal to authority. The dichotomous depiction is presented when describing the two possible amounts of SO2 injected into the stratosphere (0.5 Tg and 1.5 Tg). This presents a false either/or choice, as there could be other amounts between these two values. Additionally, an appeal to authority can be seen when citing multiple studies and authors in the text to support statements made by the author.
At least 0.5 Tg of SO2 was injected into the stratosphere (Carn et al., 2...
Volcanically generated increases in stratospheric aerosols cause a reduction in solar radiative forcing...
Solomon etॊl. (2010) showed that the lower tropical stratospheric decrease of ∼ 0.4 ppmv H2O between 2,00...
New research reveals that the eruption actually contributed to cooling the Earth, similar to other major volcanic events.
The team’s analysis revealed that the eruption resulted in more energy leaving the climate system than entering it, thereby inducing a slight cooling effect.
