How the Tongan shockwave caused a tsunami

The eruption from the Hunga-Tonga volcano in Tonga on January 15th was enormous, causing a tsunami across the Pacific, an ash cloud that extended 20km into the atmosphere, and an overpressure wave that went around the world. This video examines the impact of the eruption on the atmosphere, and explains why it seems to have caused a world-first observation of a volcanically induced meteotsunami.

Note that many of the figures in this video have come from volcanologists and geologists on Twitter - they are doing amazing, rapid data visualisation and deserve a follow!

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Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.

Looking why the Tongan eruption on January 15th was so unique, the impact of the Tonga eruption on the atmosphere, the Pacific tsunami from the Tongan volcano, and the unprecedented meteotsunami that was detected in the Pacific and Caribbean. Really this video is about ocean-atmosphere dynamics, and how the planetary fluids of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans can interact to produce amazing results. If you like videos from Smarter Every Day, Veritasium, PBS Eons, Crash Course, or Sci Show you will enjoy this interesting video about the Tonga eruption and tsunami.

Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon: Edwin, GordonV47, Andrew Knop, Shab Kumar, Cameron Grey, Brady Johnston, Liat Khitman, Jesper Norsted, Kent & Krista Halloran, Rapssack, Kevin O'Connor, Timo Kerremans, Thines Ganeshamoorthy, Ashley Wilkins, Michael Parmenter, Samuel Baumgartner, Dan Sherman, ST0RMW1NG 1, Adrian Sand, Morten Engsvang, Josh Schiager, Farsight101, K.L, poundedjam, Daan Sneep, Felix Freiberger, Chris Field, Robert Connell, Jaime Stark, Kolbrandr, , Sebastain Graf, Dan Nelson, Shane O'Brien, Alex, Fujia Li, Harry Eakins, Will Tolley, Cody VanZandt, Jesper Koed, Jonathan Craske, Albrecht Striffler, Igor Francetic, Jack Troup, SexyCaveman , James Munro, Oskar Hellström, Sean Richards, Kedar , Alastair Fortune, bitreign33 , Mat Allen, Anne Smith, Rafaela Corrêa Pereira, Colin J. Brown, Princess Andromeda, Leighton Mackenzie, BenDent, Thusto , Andy Hartley, Lachlan Woods, Tim Boxall, Dan Hanvey, Simon Donkers, Kodzo , James Bridges, Liam , Andrea De Mezzo, Wendover Productions, Kendra Johnson.

[MorganAdair]

Simon, I think you did a really good job of communicating the interesting science while also exuding empathy and concern for the people of Tonga. It's also quite commendable that you're donating what you receive from the sponsorship!

[larrian]

I find it fascinating that a shockwave and ejecta plume so colossal can have so much less volume than eruptions like Pinatubo or Krakatoa. I guess it really goes to show how important the length of a volcanic eruption is as well as its sheer initial explosion to its impact on climate.

[floramew]

I'm always surprised when Mt. Pinatubo's eruption is brought up-- I didn't technically live through/ experience it, but my mother was pregnant with me when she was evacuated from the area. I know it was significant scientifically & historically, but since no one else I've ever personally spoken to was around that area it feels like family history more than world history, even if that's completely illogical.

[mayonnaise]

I would really like a video on biomass wood pellets and their environmental effects

[JCAbarca]

Dude I was about to sleep, 5 am in my country and you upload this interesting video.. Dammit Simon!

[PenandPaperScience]

This fluid interaction between the atmosphere and the oceans is fascinating, I've never thought of it like that! Thank you, keep it up :D

[Smonserratm]

I live in a town that ocasionally gets large meteotsunamis. The biggest I've seen (3-4 m) almost dried up the port, then flooded everything around it. Our word for this phenomenon is 'rissaga'.

[LynnKK]

I had to double check that I was still subscribed because I totally missed this video when I saw it in my recommended today. Then I checked your channel and saw I'd missed all your videos in the last 2 weeks too! YouTube really needs to step up their recommendations game, I'm missing QUALITY content here 😤

[DanielSuguwa]

Lots of interesting science yet sad humanitarian disaster things to learn about in this video. Good job Simon for covering the science, and stay safe there, Tongan!

[missfasi]

I just now stumbled on this video and am now subscribed to your channel. Pretty awesome information on the Hunga Tonga- Hunga Ha’apai volcano eruption. I hope there’s no repeat of what just happened to Tonga. Thank you for donating to help Tonga! Mālō ‘Aupito e tokoni. Us Tongans appreciate you! 🙏❤️🇹🇴

[e]

I did not know meteotsunamies are a thing. We truly live in a fascinating time where we have access to such large wealth of data

[SharperthanA]

Great video and science communication!
I really appreciate your elaboration and love on fluid dynamics!

[Argosh]

There goes my hope for a single positive thing after that eruption.

[michaelh]

Your enthusiasm and curiosity is contagious

[jasonmiller]

I was expecting clickbait with this one, very happy to be wrong. Fascinating video.

[The_budgetking]

after the incident, i was waiting for your video. there is a lot of misinformation about this out there like people claiming it was a "bomb test" and stuff

[p_eople]

Thank you for the explanation and use of graphics / satellite images. Good on you for donating the funds.

[twothreebravo]

I've always been fascinated by super volcano eruptions and having all of the observations related to this eruption available really helps put those eruptions into a perspective that we never had before. Thanks for adding another fascinating facet to it with these meteotsunamis.

[LouisHansell]

Re: the meteotsunami @6:54. It struck the islands in the Caribbean BEFORE the ocean wave struck the west coasts of the Central American countries to the west of those islands.
The atmospheric shock wave traveled faster than the oceanic wave, so it reached the Caribbean islands before the oceanic tsunami did.

[FragmentJack]

I’ve watched videos talking about the volcano and tsunami but not the atmospheric effects. It’s nice of you to also donate to the relief in Tonga.