"Tonga Eruption May Alter Global Weather for Years"

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption in January 2022 has had significant and unusual climate impacts, including contributing to a large ozone hole in 2023 and altering weather patterns for years. Unlike typical volcanic eruptions, it released massive amounts of water vapor into the stratosphere, which is a potent greenhouse gas and aids in ozone layer destruction. Climate models predict lasting effects, such as colder and wetter winters in northern Australia and warmer winters in North America, potentially disrupting weather patterns for the rest of the decade.