ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Geology

The 2022 Tonga volcano eruption was one of the largest ever recorded

Jordan StricklerbyJordan Strickler
July 1, 2022
in Geology, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit
The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai undersea volcano in January 2022 was among the most explosive volcanic eruptions of the modern era.
The e Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai undersea volcano became the largest source of gravity waves on Earth. (Credit: NOAA / NESDIS)

A new analysis has verified that the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai undersea volcano in January 2022 was among the most explosive volcanic eruptions ever recorded. It was the largest volcanic eruption of the 21st century and also the largest eruption since the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa.

The study, led by scientists from the University of Bath in the UK, and published in Nature, uses extensive satellite data and ground-level observations to demonstrate that the eruption was exceptional in terms of its magnitude and speed as well as the range of the quickly moving gravity and atmospheric waves it produced.

Hunga Tonga erupted on January 15 of this year after a string of lesser eruptions that started in December 2021, creating a vertical plume that rose more than 50km (30 miles) above the earth’s surface. The eruption triggered a tsunami so severe that it killed two people in Peru and injured two more in California — despite being thousands of miles away.

In addition, the explosion caused waves in our atmosphere to circle the globe at least six times and accelerate to the fastest speeds ever recorded in our atmosphere: 320 meters per second (720 miles per hour).

Satellite animation of the initial ash plume and shockwave on 15 January. Image credits: Japan Meteorology Agency.

“This was a genuinely huge explosion, and truly unique in terms of what’s been observed by science to date,” said lead author Corwin Wright, Royal Society University Research Fellow based at the Centre for Space, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science at the University of Bath. “We’ve never seen atmospheric waves going round the whole world before, or at this speed – they were traveling very close to the theoretical limit.”

“Our study nicely shows how the striking display of global waves is driven by the huge amounts of seawater vaporized during the eruption,” said co-author Scott Osprey from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, based within the Department of Physics in the University of Oxford. “However, my gut feeling is that there is more to come from this eruption. As the exceptional amount of water vapor spreads throughout the stratosphere, eyes will turn to the Antarctic ozone hole and just how severe it will be in the spring.”

The authors of the research state that this is the first time in the observational record where a single event dominated such a vast area, and that it will assist scientists with future predictions.

RelatedPosts

Volcanic eruption in Hawaii
Underwater volcanic eruption in Tonga was most powerful natural explosion in a century
Stone shrine discovered inside Mexican volcano depicts mythical Aztec universe
Tamu Massif is an intriguing new type of hybrid volcano

“The eruption was an amazing natural experiment,” Wright said. “The data we’ve been able to gather on it will enhance our understanding of our atmosphere and will help us improve our weather and climate models.”

Tags: Hunga Tongavolcano

ShareTweetShare
Jordan Strickler

Jordan Strickler

A space nerd and self-described grammar freak (all his Twitter posts are complete sentences), he loves learning about the unknown and figures that if he isn’t smart enough to send satellites to space, he can at least write about it. Twitter: @JordanS1981

Related Posts

Astronomy

A NASA Spacecraft Just Spotted a Volcano on Mars Like We Have Never Seen Before

byTudor Tarita
1 week ago
Astronomy

Astronomers Found a Volcano Hiding in Plain Sight on Mars

byTudor Tarita
2 weeks ago
Geology

Scientists Found Traces of Gold Leaking from Earth’s Core

byTibi Puiu
1 month ago
Astronomy

Did astronomers find the most volcanic planet in the universe?

byJordan Strickler
5 months ago

Recent news

What’s Seasonal Body Image Dissatisfaction and How Not to Fall into Its Trap

June 28, 2025

Why a 20-Minute Nap Could Be Key to Unlocking ‘Eureka!’ Moments Like Salvador Dalí

June 28, 2025

The world’s oldest boomerang is even older than we thought, but it’s not Australian

June 27, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.