The massive 2022 eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano injected substantial amounts of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. The sulfur dioxide reacted with water vapor, forming sulfate aerosols that lingered in the atmosphere. These aerosols absorbed and scattered sunlight, altering the stratosphere’s chemistry and dynamics. The increased aerosol concentration contributed to temporary ozone depletion, affecting the ozone layer’s stability and potentially influencing atmospheric circulation patterns.
