In January 2022 a submarine volcano erupted in the South Pacific. Scientists used advanced satellites to study the volcanic plume and found it helped remove some of the methane the volcano released. Satellites detected unusually high formaldehyde, a short-lived chemical, and tracked the cloud for 10 days as it moved to South America.
Researchers think sunlight on sea salt and ash produced reactive chlorine, which reacted with methane and helped break it down. The plume reached the stratosphere (the higher atmosphere), but the chemical process still worked there. The team says the finding could guide ways to speed up methane removal and so help reduce warming within about a decade.
Difficult words
- submarine — under the sea, below the ocean surface
- erupt — to suddenly throw out lava or gaserupted
- plume — a cloud of gas or smoke in air
- methane — a gas that adds to global warming
- formaldehyde — a short-lived chemical in the air
- chlorine — a reactive chemical element that can change gases
- stratosphere — the higher layer of the Earth's atmosphere
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think scientists should study volcano plumes more to fight climate change? Why?
- Would you trust satellite data about gases in the air? Why or why not?
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