Volcanic plume unexpectedly destroyed methane after 2022 eruption

May 11, 2026

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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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Scientists uncover ocean methane source tied to phosphate scarcity

Researchers at the University of Rochester have identified a key mechanism for methane production in the open ocean, driven by phosphate scarcity. The discovery, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests warming oceans could boost these emissions, creating a potential climate feedback loop. This resolves a long-standing puzzle about methane in oxygen-rich surface waters.

Ancient Antarctic ice reveals modest greenhouse gas changes over 3 million years

April 25, 2026 Ti AI ṣe iroyin

Scientists analyzing ancient ice from Antarctica have found that ocean temperatures dropped by 2 to 2.5 degrees Celsius over the past 3 million years, while carbon dioxide and methane levels changed only modestly. The studies, led by researchers from Oregon State University and others, suggest factors beyond greenhouse gases drove much of Earth's long-term cooling. The findings come from ice cores at Allan Hills in East Antarctica.

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Congo basin blackwater lakes release ancient carbon

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Lava flow decreases at Hawaii's Kilauea volcano

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Ocean geoengineering trial removes CO2 without harming marine life

Kikai caldera supervolcano shows signs of magma recharge

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.

Meteor impacts may have sparked life on early Earth

April 04, 2026 Ti AI ṣe iroyin

Scientists suggest that asteroid impacts created hot, chemical-rich environments that could have kick-started life on Earth. A new review led by recent Rutgers graduate Shea Cinquemani highlights impact-generated hydrothermal systems as potential cradles for life's building blocks. These systems may have persisted for thousands of years, providing ideal conditions for early biology.

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