Table 1 Estimate of the stratospheric moisture increase via the indirect pathway for four idealized explosive volcanic eruptions in the tropics

From: Indirect stratospheric moisture increase after a Pinatubo-magnitude eruption can be comparable to direct increase after 2022 Hunga

Emitted (S/Tg)

EFT warming (K)

Δq80:20 (Tg/year)

comparable eruption with (year/Tg S)

5

0.65

86

1963 Mt. Agung 2.5–5 (3)

   

1982 El Chichón 2.5–5 (3)

   

1991 Mt. Pinatubo 5–10 (7)

10

2.08

299

1991 Mt. Pinatubo 5–10 (7)

20

4.30

706

1815 Mt. Tambora 14–30 (30)

40

6.77

1298

1815 Mt. Tambora 15–40 (30)

  1. Emitted sulfur for four idealized volcanic eruptions in Tg of sulfur, and associated EFT warming given Kelvin35. Δq80:20 (Tg/yr) denotes the increase in moisture flux due to the indirect pathway based on the presented conceptual calculation. Comparable eruptions with a range of emitted sulfur and best estimate (in parenthesis) are listed for reference.