Tonga volcano eruption was essentially the most explosive of the twenty first century

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in Tonga on 15 January 2022 created 90-metre excessive tsunamis and shot ash 57 kilometres into the sky

By Alice Klein

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in Tonga on 15 January was essentially the most highly effective of the twenty first century thus far.

The volcano, which is 20 kilometres huge at its base and principally lies underwater north of Tonga’s primary island, Tongatapu, erupted with a volcanic explosivity index of 6, making it essentially the most explosive eruption since that of Mount Pinatubo within the Philippines in 1991. The blast shot ash 57 kilometres into the sky.

Tsunami waves attributable to the explosion have been initially 90 metres excessive and have been nonetheless as much as 18 metres excessive by the point they …