In 2023, record-breaking temperatures are raising concerns worldwide. Scientists attribute this phenomenon, in part, to the 2022 underwater volcanic eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai in the South Pacific. It is situated west of Tonga’s main inhabited islands, this volcano is one of 12 submerged volcanoes forming the Tofua Arc, a segment of the Tonga-Kermadec volcanic arc created by the Pacific Plate subducting beneath the Indo-Australian Plate. Typically, volcanic eruptions lower temperatures through sulfur dioxide emissions, reflecting sunlight and causing temporary cooling. However, the underwater Tonga eruption uniquely injected both aerosols and water vapor into the stratosphere, potentially leading to short-term net warming.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Tofua Arc: The Tofua Arc is a geological feature consisting of underwater volcanic arcs in the South Pacific, including the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano. It results from the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Indo-Australian Plate.
- Stratospheric Aerosol: Stratospheric aerosols are tiny particles suspended in the stratosphere, often emitted during volcanic eruptions. They can reflect sunlight, contributing to short-term cooling of Earth’s surface.
- Greenhouse Gas: Water vapor is a natural greenhouse gas that absorbs solar radiation and contributes to the greenhouse effect, trapping heat in the atmosphere.
- Little Ice Age: The Little Ice Age was a period of cooler global temperatures that lasted from roughly the 14th century to the 19th century. It may have been initiated, in part, by volcanic eruptions like Samalas in 1257.
- IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change): The IPCC is a scientific organization that assesses and reports on climate change and its impacts. It provides authoritative information on climate science to policymakers and the public.
