NASA Earth Observatory said that an undersea volcano that is part of a seabed ridge that runs from New Zealand to Tonga in the southwest Pacific Ocean erupted on September 10.
Since then, lava has been gushing from the Central Tonga Islands' Home Reef seamount. A new island appeared eleven hours after the eruption started.
Home Reef is located in the Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone, where three tectonic plates are slamming into one another at the rate of convergence that is the fastest in the world.
The Pacific Plate in the region is colliding with two smaller plates and sinking, creating one of the planet's deepest pits and most active volcanic arcs.
Small Island Found Near Tonga Volcano
The new island continued to expand through September 20, according to the Tonga Geological Services; and it now measures around 24,000 square meters (6 acres).
"The volcano activity poses low risks to the Aviation Community and the residents of Vava'u and Ha'apai," Tonga Geological Services said in a statement issued on Sept. 22.
Tonga Geological Services noted no visible ash in the past 24 hours. All Mariners, the government agency said, are advised to sail beyond four kilometers away from Home Reef until further notice.
Although they can last for years, islands formed by undersea volcanoes are frequently transient, according to NASA.
For instance, a 2020 island formed by the adjacent Late'iki Volcano's 12-day eruption washed away after two months, whereas a 1995 island formed by the same volcano lasted for more than two decades.
Eleven hours after the eruption began, a new island rose above the water surface near Tonga Volcano. The Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) on Landsat 9 captured this natural-color view of the young island on September 14, 2022, as plumes of discolored water circulated nearby. Previous research suggests that these plumes of superheated, acidic seawater contain particulate matter, volcanic rock fragments, and sulfur.
According to NASA, some islands formed by submerged volcanoes can endure for years; however, most do not.
The construction of the Home Reef's newest island is stunningly detailed in satellite photographs of the most recent eruption.
Using data from the US Geological Survey, NASA published the picture below on September 14.
It reveals not only a considerable smoke trail but also a striking oceanic coloring.
In a follow-up photo obtained on September 18 and released by TGS on Facebook, the volcanic fallout is zoomed in using USGS data.
Science Alert said clouding of the water is likely the consequence of acidic saltwater that has been overheated and combined with volcanic rock and debris.
Seismic Activity in Tonga Area
Al Jazeera said seismic activity is frequent around Tonga, an archipelago nation with 171 islands and a population of 100,000.
Home Reef volcanoes have previously erupted in 1852, 1857, 1984, and 2006, with the latest two eruptions creating islands that are 50 to 70 meters (164-229 ft) high.
According to NASA, there are other underwater volcanoes on the Home Reef, a seabed ridge that runs from Tonga to New Zealand.
No further volcanic ash or steam has been seen coming from this area of the Pacific since September 25.
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