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Tongan volcanic eruption caused ozone depletion
Morning Report
English - October 19, 2023 19:25 - 3 minutes - 2.83 MB - ★★★★ - 11 ratingsNews Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
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The eruption of Tonga's Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai early last year chewed up about 5-percent of ozone over the tropical south-western Pacific and Indian Ocean.
The volcanic plume, which reached 57-kilometres high, was full of ash, gasses, and - crucially - water vapour.
Scientists believe that water vapour cooled the stratosphere, creating the conditions for ozone depletion.
University of Canterbury atmospheric chemist Laura Revell spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.