Pluma vulcânica destruiu metano inesperadamente após erupção de 2022

11 de maio de 2026

Reportado por IA

Cientistas descobriram que a erupção de 2022 de um vulcão submarino no Pacífico Sul desencadeou um processo químico que removeu quantidades significativas de metano da atmosfera. A descoberta, detalhada em um novo estudo, mostra como cinzas vulcânicas e água do mar se combinaram para decompor o potente gás de efeito estufa.

Em janeiro de 2022, o vulcão Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai produziu uma erupção poderosa que enviou cinzas e água do mar para o alto da estratosfera. Dados de satélite revelaram posteriormente concentrações incomumente altas de formaldeído dentro da pluma, um sinal claro de que o metano estava sendo destruído ao longo de vários dias. Pesquisadores monitoraram a nuvem por dez dias enquanto ela se movia em direção à América do Sul. O Dr. Maarten van Herpen, da Acacia Impact Innovation BV, observou que a presença contínua de formaldeído indicou a decomposição contínua de metano por mais de uma semana.

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