Here’s the video of an underwater volcano erupting in the ocean near Tonga. It’s impressive.
“The eruption spawned a 4-foot tsunami that hit Tonga’s capital of Nuku’alofa, which is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of the volcano. A sonic boom from the eruption was heard across the Pacific Ocean, reaching as far away as Alaska, according to the Associated Press.
Nuku’alofa was reportedly covered in a thick film of volcanic dust, according the AP. There have been no official reports of injuries or damage from Tonga’s capital, but its internet access was interrupted by the event, the AP added.
The volcano on Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai first erupted on Dec. 20 and then exploded with a massive eruption on Jan. 13, which was also spotted by GOES West, NOAA officials said in a statement. That eruption was seven times more powerful than the December event and sent a huge plume of ash and gas over 12 miles (20 kilometers) into Earth’s atmosphere.
Saturday’s eruption also sent an ash plume to an altitude of nearly 12 miles, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told the AP. New Zealand officials hope to send military surveillance flights over the volcano on Monday to assess its status, followed by aid and supplies for Tonga, where water supplies may be contaminated, Ardern added.”
Update: Hat tip to Big Mac for a link to a very informative site on the details of that volcano.
Check out this you tube video, it very comprehensive.
Volcanic Eruption May Be Biggest Ever Seen From Space – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoMRwyNhqJ4
Thanks Mac. That was an excellent presentation.
I wonder how many tons of CO2 were released in that eruption.
I’m sure there’s a goofball scientist working on the number as we speak. But they’ll have to try and forget that volcanic eruptions lower global temperature sometimes, enormously.