The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano’s eruption in 2022 was the most significant in 30 years, sending ash high into the atmosphere and causing tsunamis across the Pacific. The global spread of sulfur dioxide from the eruption was monitored by the Copernicus Sentinel-5P mission.
The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano near Tonga in the South Pacific erupted with such force on January 15, 2022, that it is thought to be the biggest eruption recorded anywhere on the planet in 30 years.
Sending tsunami waves across the Pacific, the effects of this underwater eruption were felt as far away as the United States and Japan. Sonic booms from the eruption were heard across the Pacific and as far as Alaska, more than 9,000 km (5,600 mi) away and the shockwave resulted in a noticeable jump in atmospheric pressure around the world.
The volcano spewed ash, gas, and steam 30 kilometers (20 mi) into the atmosphere. Hazardous ash has smothered the island nation of Tonga, causing an unprecedented disaster.
Global Effects and Monitoring Efforts
While Tonga copes with the aftermath, this image illustrates how sulfur dioxide from the eruption is spreading across the planet. Using data from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P mission, the image shows the huge plume of sulfur dioxide on January 18 over Australia, more than 7,000 km (4,300 mi) west of the eruption.
Copernicus Sentinel-5P is dedicated to monitoring air pollution by measuring a multitude of trace gases as well as aerosols – all of which affect the air we breathe.
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2 Comments
“The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano …”
Is that a name, or a description in a foreign language? It is like referencing Cyrano Savinien Hercule de Bergerac, when Cyrano alone would suffice in context.
SO2 affects the air we breathe, but it also affects the solar radiance. SO2 cools the atmosphere. So it is not all bad news here.