The eruption of the submarine volcano Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Hapai in January 2022 proved to be an event that could have serious consequences for our planet’s climate. The magnitude of this eruption was enormous and its impact was immediately noticeable. Huge amounts of water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and volcanic ash were released into the stratosphere. All of this could lead to a strong warming of the continental massifs of the northern hemisphere.
Specialists note that the consequences of this eruption will be felt not only for several months, but also for several years. One of the brightest manifestations of these consequences was the abnormal heat wave that engulfed many regions of the world in 2023.
European forecasters confirm that last July was the hottest July in the history of weather observations since 1940. The average monthly temperature in July 2023 was 16.95 degrees Celsius, which was higher than the previously set historic high of 16.63 degrees Celsius in July 2019.
However, it wasn’t just the air that warmed to record highs. The record for monthly average ocean surface temperature was also broken. This is particularly important because the ocean surface is a regulator of the troposphere’s thermal regime. An increase in ocean temperature may lead to further intensification of anomalous heat waves and other extreme weather events.
Specialists believe that the eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Hapai volcano was one of the causes of the abnormal heat wave. However, they also note that climatic changes caused by human activity play an important role in intensifying these phenomena. Scientists have long warned that global warming could lead to the involvement of volcanoes in the climate process, and the eruption of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Hapai was a prime example of this influence.
The situation with abnormal heat in 2023 requires serious attention and measures to mitigate its effects. Scientists and experts are already warning about the need to revise climate policies and take measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is the only way to reduce the risk of such anomalies in the future.
