Space-observed volcano plume reveals natural methane cleanup

Satellites captured a record-high formaldehyde signal in the Hunga Tonga eruption plume, indicating that chlorine-driven chemistry on iron salt aerosols formed from ash and seawater, energized by sunlight, was destroying methane in the cloud. The eruption released about 300 gigagrams of methane, while the plume was removing roughly 900 megagrams of methane per day, suggesting atmospheric dust from volcanic activity can affect the methane budget and offering a potential blueprint for deliberate methane removal — though safety and feasibility require careful study.