Chemistry Contribution to Stratospheric Ozone Depletion After the Unprecedented Water‐Rich Hunga Tonga Eruption.

Following the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai (HTHH) eruption in January 2022, stratospheric ozone depletion was observed at Southern Hemisphere mid‐latitudes and over Antarctica during the 2022 austral wintertime and springtime, respectively. The eruption injected sulfur dioxide and unprecedented amounts of water vapor into the stratosphere. This work examines the chemistry contribution of the volcanic materials to ozone depletion using chemistry‐climate model simulations with nudged meteorology. Simulated 2022 ozone and nitrogen oxide (NOx = NO + NO2) anomalies show good agreement with satellite observations. We find that chemistry yields up to 4% ozone destruction at mid‐latitudes near ∼70 hPa in August and up to 20% ozone destruction over Antarctica near ∼80 hPa in October. Most of the ozone depletion is attributed to internal variability and dynamical changes forced by the eruption. Both the modeling and observations show a significant NOx reduction associated with the HTHH aerosol plume, indicating enhanced dinitrogen pentoxide hydrolysis on sulfate aerosol. Plain Language Summary: The January 2022 eruption of the Hunga Tonga‐Hunga Ha'apai underwater volcano injected a large amount of water vapor (H2O) and moderate amounts of sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the stratosphere. Stratospheric ozone depletion was observed following the eruption at Southern Hemisphere (SH) mid‐latitudes and over Antarctica during the 2022 austral wintertime and springtime, respectively. The ozone layer in the stratosphere protects both people and the biosphere by absorbing harmful solar ultraviolet radiation. We use computer simulation to examine the impacts of chemical processes on the ozone layer from the volcanic materials. We find that chemistry results in 4% and 20% of the ozone loss at SH mid‐latitudes near 70 hPa in August and Antarctica around 80 hPa in October respectively. Most of the ozone changes are due to transport and dynamical processes from internal variability in the climate system and a forced response by the HTHH eruption. Key Points: Chemistry yields 4% and 20% ozone depletion in the lower stratosphere at mid‐latitudes and Antarctica in August and October, respectivelyThe majority of ozone depletion is ascribed to internal variability and dynamical changes induced by the eruptionHTHH aerosol plume is associated with notable NOx reduction, indicating enhanced dinitrogen pentoxide hydrolysis on sulfate aerosol [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]