The Tonga eruption triggered a strong tsunami off the Tonga island in 2022. A study has revealed that this monstrous event triggered the fastest ocean flows that have ever been recorded.
Tonga Eruption Caused Fastest Ocean Flows Ever Seen
According to the study, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Volcano pushed ash, gas, and rocks to race on the seafloor at an astonishing speed of 122 kilometers per hour, or 76 miles per hour.
This was calculated by a research team that scientists from the National Oceanography Center (NOC) in Britain led. The team made use of cable damage locations and timings to calculate the debris flow speed.
NOC's Mike Clare explains that the plume of the eruption went as high as 57 kilometers and directly fell into the water and steep slopes underwater. Clare further explained that the currents' power and speed were so intense to the point where they could run over a hundred kilometers through the seafloor and wreck the cables.
The study noted that these ocean flows were faster compared to those that floods, storms, or earthquakes triggered.
Though there are several underwater volcanoes, only a few are being monitored. This means that there is a poorly understood risk of how coastal infrastructure and communities are at risk, as explained by NOC volcanologist Isobel Yeo, who is also a joint-lead scientist of the study.
Land eruption also belched fast and hot currents of gases, lava, and volcanic ash, which are also referred to as pyroclastic flows.
This study, however, is the first to note what takes place when huge quantities of erupted volcanic material get directly delivered into the ocean.
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Monstrous Tonga Eruption of 2022
The imminent disaster began in 2021 when the submarine volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai started erupting. Its activity became even more violent, to the point where Tonga island's middle section faded in satellite imagery.
On January 15 early morning, the volcano prompted a huge blast. It was so huge that areas in New Zealand were able to pick it up, despite being over 2,092 kilometers, or 1,300 miles, away. The shockwaves even reached the United Kingdom, which is over 16,093 kilometers, or 10,000 miles, far from the site.
A roaring tsunami then followed suit. The gashing waves hit the main island of Tongatapu. Streets were flooding; communication was turbulent; and people were fleeing for their lives.
Research revealed that this massive explosion is thought to take place just once in every thousand years, showing how incredibly rare the event is.
The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano is also one of the region's most active volcanoes in the past few decades.
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