Researchers studying the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption found that a combination of salty water vapor and volcanic ash created chlorine atoms that broke down methane in the stratosphere. This natural process produced formaldehyde as a byproduct, signaling the continuous destruction of a potent greenhouse gas over several days. While the findings suggest a potential pathway for geoengineering or industrial methane removal, experts warn that replicating this process in the lower atmosphere could have unpredictable effects on air quality and ecosystem health.
