In a world grappling with escalating climate crises, the events of 2023 have set unprecedented benchmarks. From the extraordinary lightning storms triggered by the Tonga Volcano eruption to the exacerbation of hurricanes, floods, and droughts due to global warming, this year has redefined our understanding of extreme weather phenomena.
By diving deep into the interconnections between these significant environmental events, we can better understand the urgency of mitigating future disasters. Our survival hinges on recognizing these signals and taking collective action to restore Earth’s fragile balance.
The Fury of the Tonga Volcano
On January 15, 2022, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano erupted, ejecting a colossal plume of ash and gas beyond the stratosphere. Notably, the eruption led to the most intense rates of lightning ever recorded—2,600 flashes per minute at its peak. These lightning storms occurred at an estimated 12 to 19 miles above sea level, shattering previous records. Such extreme weather phenomena were not merely an isolated event but a sign of the Earth’s shifting climatic balance.
The Global Warming Culprit
Concurrent to volcanic activities, global warming has been relentlessly altering our planet’s weather patterns. According to a Bloomberg report, extreme weather events like heat waves, cyclones, floods, and wildfires are now routinely tied to climate change. Record-hot oceans in 2023 have intensified typhoons and hurricanes, and the world experienced its hottest months in June and July. This dual onslaught of nature’s fury is not coincidental but deeply interlinked.
The Climate-Weather Nexus
Vaporized Seawater and Lightning
The Tonga Volcano eruption vaporized a large amount of seawater, creating an ash plume rich in moisture. Researchers speculate that this contributed to the high-altitude, intense lightning storms. Similarly, global warming increases air moisture levels, making storms like cyclones and hurricanes more potent.
The relationship between increased air moisture and more severe weather is a critical topic in understanding climate change impacts. It’s a complex interplay that not only influences weather patterns but also contributes to global heating.
How Increased Air Moisture Affects Weather
- Intensification of Storms: Moist air serves as the “fuel” for storms. The more moisture in the air, the more energy is available to develop and sustain storms, including hurricanes and cyclones. Warmer, moist air rises, creating low-pressure areas that attract high-pressure, leading to the formation of storms.
- Heavier Precipitation: More moisture in the air means that when it does rain, it rains harder. This leads to flooding, landslides, and other water-related disasters.
- Spread of Wildfires: Ironically, increased moisture can also lead to drier conditions. How? Warmer air can hold more moisture, pulling it away from the ground and plants. When it finally does rain, the precipitation is often too intense and short-lived to alleviate the dry conditions, creating an environment ripe for wildfires.
The Connection to Global Heating
- Positive Feedback Loop: Increased air moisture also acts as a greenhouse gas, trapping more heat in the atmosphere. This creates a feedback loop: higher temperatures lead to more moisture, which traps more heat, further raising temperatures.
- Altered Jet Streams: Increased moisture and heat can alter jet streams, the high-altitude winds that guide weather patterns. When these streams slow down or get “stuck,” extreme weather events like heatwaves or prolonged storms can occur.
- Oceanic Changes: Warmer air and higher moisture levels contribute to sea surface temperature changes, which can affect ocean currents. These currents are another crucial driver of global weather patterns and climate.
Increased air moisture is a double-edged sword. While necessary for certain ecological processes, its rise due to global warming exacerbates extreme weather events and contributes to global heating. Understanding this relationship is crucial for scientists, policymakers, and the general public as we work together to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change.
Extreme Heat and Atmospheric Changes
Both the volcanic eruption and global warming have the potential to alter atmospheric pressure. The rapid expansion of the ash plume could have raised air pressure, leading to high-altitude lightning. On the other hand, global warming locks high-pressure systems in place, leading to extreme heat waves and intensified cyclones.
Unpredictable Weather Patterns
The Tonga eruption increased stratospheric water vapor by 5%, which could temporarily warm Earth’s surface. Global warming has its set of ramifications—longer fire seasons, more intense heat waves, and altering ocean temperatures—that lead to unpredictable weather patterns.
Image source: https://earthhow.com/stratosphere/
The stratosphere is one of the layers of Earth’s atmosphere, situated above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. It starts at an altitude of approximately 8 to 15 kilometers (5 to 9 miles) above Earth’s surface and extends up to about 50 kilometers (31 miles) in altitude.
Height Comparison:
To give you a sense of how high the stratosphere is, here are some comparisons:
- Mount Everest: The highest peak in the world, Mount Everest, has an elevation of about 8.8 kilometers (5.5 miles), which is just at the lower edge of the stratosphere.
- Commercial Airplanes: Most commercial airplanes cruise at altitudes between 9 and 12 kilometers (about 30,000 to 39,000 feet), which puts them in the lower stratosphere.
- Weather Balloons: These can reach altitudes of up to 40 kilometers (25 miles), exploring much of the stratosphere.
- Ozone Layer: Situated within the stratosphere, the ozone layer lies at altitudes between 15 and 35 kilometers (9 to 22 miles).
- Space: The boundary of space, known as the Kármán line, is located at an altitude of 100 kilometers (62 miles), well above the stratosphere.
- Skydiving Records: Extreme skydiving jumps from the edge of space, such as the one performed by Felix Baumgartner in 2012, are conducted from the stratosphere.
- Stratospheric Clouds: These clouds are rare but can sometimes be seen at altitudes of 15 to 25 kilometers (9 to 16 miles).
The Global Impact of 2023’s Extreme Weather
Disasters in 2023 have reverberated across continents, affecting everything from agriculture and travel to insurance calculations. The Tonga eruption alone impacted over 80% of Tonga’s population and caused tsunamis that led to multiple deaths and displacements. Global warming, on the other hand, has increased the likelihood and severity of extreme weather events, affecting millions globally and leading to financial losses in billions.
The graph depicts the deadliest meteorological events of 2023, ranked by the total number of casualties, which includes both deaths and missing persons. Events like “Cyclone Freddy” and “Cyclone Mocha” have the highest number of casualties, with 1,434 and 539 (438 deaths + 101 missing) respectively. The bar chart provides a visual representation of the impact of each event, with red portions indicating deaths and blue portions indicating the sum of deaths and missing persons.
Conclusion
The eruption of the Tonga Volcano and the ongoing impacts of global warming serve as humbling reminders of the Earth’s ever-changing climate. While each is impactful on its own, their combined effects have set the stage for a year of extreme weather anomalies in 2023. As we grapple with these unprecedented events, the need for focused climate action has never been more pressing.
