Scientists stunned as volcano cloud starts destroying methane

Scientists found that the cloud from the 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption destroyed methane: satellites recorded record formaldehyde levels, indicating active gas breakdown. The mechanism involves volcanic ash, sea salt, and sunlight forming chlorine that attacks methane.

• Volcano emitted about 300 Gg of methane, comparable to annual emissions of 2 million cows
• Cloud removed roughly 900 Mg of methane per day for over 10 days
• Formaldehyde served as a chemical marker of methane destruction in the stratosphere
• Methane is 80 times stronger than CO2 over 20 years and lasts about 10 years in the atmosphere