Why is it in the news?

• A recent study published in the Journal of Climate revealed that the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in January 2022 has had significant implications for global weather patterns.

Key discoveries of the research include:

• Unusual Climate Effects:
• The eruption of the Hunga Tonga volcano led to unexpected weather patterns, including an exceptionally large ozone hole last year and a much wetter-than-anticipated summer in 2024.
• These effects were attributed to the massive release of water vapor into the stratosphere, diverging from the typical smoke and sulfur dioxide emissions of volcanic eruptions.
• Impact on Ozone Hole:
• The study indicates that the eruption of Hunga Tonga influenced the significant ozone hole observed from August to December 2023.
• The released water vapor contributed to chemical reactions, depleting the ozone layer over Antarctica.
• Interestingly, this effect was foreseen by climate simulations conducted two years earlier.
• Impact on Southern Annular Mode:
• The ozone hole’s presence triggered a positive phase of the Southern Annular Mode in the summer of 2024.
• This led to increased chances of a wetter summer in Australia, diverging from El Niño-based expectations. Notably, climate models accurately predicted this phenomenon in advance.
• Atmospheric Wave Alteration:
• The eruption seems to have changed the paths of atmospheric waves, impacting high and low-pressure systems that shape weather patterns.
• This indicates that the eruption’s effects might endure for years, influencing weather variability globally.

Overview of Tonga:

• Tonga, located in Polynesia, comprises 171 islands, 45 of which are inhabited, spanning 800 km north-south.
• Surrounded by neighboring countries, it boasts a tropical rainforest climate.
• The economy relies significantly on remittances from Tongans abroad, with emphasis on small-scale industries like handicrafts and agriculture.
• Efforts to bolster tourism and communications sectors are underway.
• The population primarily consists of Tongans, alongside diverse ethnic groups by a mix of Tongans, Chinese, Fijians, Europeans, and other Pacific Islanders.