The explosive eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) volcano on 15 January 2022 injected more water vapor into the stratosphere and to higher altitudes than ever observed in the satellite era.
Water vapor is the most important and powerful greenhouse gas. Increasing the amount in the upper atmosphere, where it does not rapidly cycle out, increases the global temperature.
Very quickly.
The only other large source of water vapor in the stratosphere is from jet aircraft. Any increase in water vapor over the north pole will cause a drastic increase in temperatures in the arctic. Because of the cold conditions, flights over the arctic are high in the stratosphere.
Data from satellites shows the greatest warming for our planet is in the arctic.
