Østerstrøm FF, Klobas JE, Kennedy RP, Cadoux A, Wilmouth DM. Sensitivity of stratospheric ozone to the latitude, season, and halogen content of a contemporary explosive volcanic eruption.
Sci Rep 2023;
13:6457. [PMID:
37081043 PMCID:
PMC10119174 DOI:
10.1038/s41598-023-32574-9]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a systematic evaluation of the perturbation to the stratosphere from an explosive volcanic eruption injecting sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, as a function of latitude, season, and injection gas halogen content in a chemistry-climate state representative of the present day (modeled as year 2025). Enhancements in aerosol surface area density and decreases in stratospheric ozone are observed for a period of years following all modeled scenarios, with volcanic eruptions near the equator impacting both hemispheres relatively equally, and eruptions at higher latitudes reducing the thickness of the ozone layer more substantially in the hemisphere of the eruption. Our simulations reveal that there that are significant seasonal differences when comparing the stratospheric impact of a volcanic eruption occurring in summer versus winter, and this holds true regardless of whether volcanic halogen gases (Cl, Br) are co-injected with sulfur dioxide. If an explosive halogen-rich eruption were to occur, there would be substantial ozone losses in both hemispheres, regardless of latitude or season, with recovery potentially exceeding 4 years.
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