Hunga Tonga Volcano Eruption Update; The Island and its Volcano are Gone

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga on January 15th produced a large and destructive tsunami through a new volcanic eruption. This tsunami occurred due to partial edifice collapse, which destroyed the vast majority of the existing island. Instead of a once 4 kilometer or 2.4 mile wide island, there are now only two small barrier islands. What had just occurred was likely the most powerful volcanic eruption in a decade. This video will separate fact from fiction, and discuss the eruption, what its true magnitude is, and what might happen next at Hunga Tonga. It is a very famous volcano as it has produced several spectacular island forming eruptions in the 21st century.


Volcanic ash advisory center:
For information on potential ash advisories of this volcano, select the Wellington center.

Special Thanks to: @alakihihifo, INVOLCAN

0:00 Hunga Tonga Erupts
0:15 Eruptions Effects
0:46 An Island Destroyed
1:35 How large was the eruption?
2:48 Sulfur Dioxide Emissions
3:24 What Will Happen Next
Google Earth imagery used in this video: ©Google

Satellite Video/Photo Credit: NOAA, NASA, GOES WEST 17, Public Domain & Japan Meteorological Agency, CC BY 4.0-I

[GeologyHub]

[Edit 1] The VEI scale counts the volume of explosively erupted material. Lava flows do not count but ash DOES. As for the plume, water vapor does not count but fine ash does.

[dojokonojo]

I thought it was pretty cool that people's weather device's and weather stations across the US could detect the explosion pressure wave travel across the continental US.

[DenverHornsbyJr]

I'm not a Geologist but you gave a great description of what happened in a clear, concise manner.
Thank you.

[maxpower]

Given the ~1000 year gap between Caldera forming eruptions (so presumably at least VEI 6), I wouldn’t be surprised if there is still an unimaginable amount of pressure underneath Hunga Tonga, and that what we saw Saturday could be only the beginning. Almost every caldera forming eruption is proceeded by several smaller eruptions which can be quite large in their own right

[SunflowerHeather]

Incredible event. Your coverage is top shelf, thank you

[kencoleman]

Once again, I really appreciate your clear and unemotional presentation of the facts.

[vuchaser]

The irony of the VEI is that it is NOT based on vigor... it is nearly solely on amount. We have the same problem in meteorology and the EF scale for tornadoes. It is not width or shape... it is what and how it destroys something.

[lavapix]

Very well explained. Funny you mentioned the possibility of more tsunamis. The strange currents like we had from the big eruption returned today here in Kona Hawaii. I was out surfing when they started up like the other morning. Not nearly as bad but very noticeable. We figured it could still be leftovers from the big blast.

[patrickmcneill]

Thanks for the update. I work with water level gauges on the west coast of Canada. We are still seeing some minor residual waves from the tsunami this morning (Jan 17th). Only a few cms high but certainly noticeable. Just amazing how powerful this event was.

[theanonymousplayer]

YES 100K SUBS LETS GO CONGRATS GEOLOGY HUB U LEGEND!!!!

[theredrover]

Appreciate your adressing the VEI disparity issue and better yet, well done.

[TheNeurotichi]

The scale has reached a new unit of measure it's called, oh shit!

[mrjoblington]

The destruction of these islands just shows how much kinetic energy was in this explosion, absolutely immense.

[Subie-Driver]

Wow…basically a Mount St Helen’s in the middle of the ocean. Blown away!

[jacksonkruse]

Congrats on 100k my man upward and onward!

[adventurecoalition]

Thanks for sharing the information, very thorough. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Tonga

[angelavanhorn]

Thank you for this updating on Tonga, S.Pacific volcanoes eruption...

[BrenttonMathieu]

Solid video... we need more honest reporting like this in the world today! 👍

[Chookly]

Gday. I like the pacing of info and clips. Nice editing

[gavinharper]

Praying for those who were impacted in the Hunga Tonga volcano I heard about the Volcano in the news this morning in Jamaica saw it on BBC And CNN