Volcanic plume unexpectedly destroyed methane after 2022 eruption

11. Mai 2026

Von KI berichtet

Scientists have found that the 2022 eruption of an underwater volcano in the South Pacific triggered a chemical process that removed significant amounts of methane from the atmosphere. The discovery, detailed in a new study, shows how volcanic ash and seawater combined to break down the potent greenhouse gas.

In January 2022 the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano produced a powerful eruption that sent ash and seawater high into the stratosphere. Satellite data later revealed unusually high concentrations of formaldehyde within the plume, a clear sign that methane was being destroyed over several days. Researchers tracked the cloud for ten days as it moved toward South America. Dr. Maarten van Herpen of Acacia Impact Innovation BV noted that the continuous presence of formaldehyde indicated ongoing methane breakdown for more than a week.

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Atmospheric methane concentrations rose at an unprecedented rate in the early 2020s, driven by a weakened natural removal process and increased emissions from wetter landscapes. Scientists attribute much of the spike to a drop in hydroxyl radicals during 2020-2021, combined with climate-driven boosts from wetlands and agriculture. The findings underscore the interplay between atmospheric chemistry and weather patterns in global greenhouse gas trends.

Scientists uncover ocean methane source tied to phosphate scarcity

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Researchers conducted a trial in the Gulf of Maine, pouring 65,000 litres of sodium hydroxide into the ocean in August 2025, which removed up to 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The experiment, the first ship-based alkalinity enhancement test, showed no significant impact on marine life. Initial findings were announced at the Ocean Sciences Meeting in Glasgow on 25 February.

Kikai caldera supervolcano shows signs of magma recharge

31. März 2026 Von KI berichtet

Researchers have found that the magma reservoir beneath Japan's Kikai caldera, site of the Holocene's largest eruption 7,300 years ago, is refilling with newly injected magma. Using underwater seismic imaging, a team led by Kobe University's Nobukazu Seama mapped the reservoir and linked it to the ancient event. The discovery offers insights into how such systems rebuild after massive eruptions.

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