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Tonga: Volcanic eruption and tsunami 2022

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Aerial view of Niuafo’ou volcano in Tonga
gokturk_06/Shutterstock

Introduction

In January 2022, a submarine volcanic eruption triggered a tsunami in the Pacific island state of Tonga. The volcano created a powerful shock wave and displaced huge amounts of water, triggering a far-flung tsunami that raced across the vast Pacific Ocean and reached as far as the coasts of Japan and the Americas.

Despite successful disaster preparedness and response measuers in place, the event demonstrated the compound and cascading risks features of these hazards, calling for strengthening of the regional disaster risk management. Solutions may include a better understanding and communication of hazards and risk, early warning for volcanoes, and critical infrastructure redundancy.

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Knowledge base

Tonga volcano satelite view
Research briefs

Eruption of Tonga underwater volcano found to disrupt satellite signals halfway around the world

An international team has used satellite- and ground-based ionospheric observations to demonstrate that an air pressure wave triggered by volcanic eruptions which severely disrupted satellite-based communications.
Nagoya University
Volcanic crater and lake in Tonga
Research briefs

Tonga volcano eruption triggered ‘mega-tsunami’

Detailed analysis of the January 2022 event shows how underwater blasts generated huge waves that battered coastlines throughout the island nation.
Nature Publishing Group
Updates

Tongan residents are still clearing debris from the Volcanic eruption and tsunami, 12-months after the disaster

Twelve months after the volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga, residents are still clearing and cleaning up debris and damage.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Research briefs

Looking back at the Tonga eruption

A “back-projection” technique reveals new details of the volcanic eruption in Tonga that literally shook the world.
Hokkaido University
Damage from volcanic eruption and tsunanami - Sopu, Tonga 16 January 2022
Updates

Social media posts reveal human responses to deadly Tongan eruption

Quantifying human responses to disasters could improve preparation for future threats, scientists say.
Eos - AGU
Updates

5 facts on how the effects of a future Tonga volcano eruption can be reduced

15 January 2022 the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano eruption was felt across the Pacific Ocean and beyond, releasing energy equivalent to hundreds of Hiroshima nuclear explosions and creating supersonic air pressure waves that were observed from space
United Nations University
Research briefs

Wave created by Tonga volcano eruption reached 90 metres - nine times taller than 2011 Japan tsunami

New research reveals more about the magnitude of January eruption, as researchers call for better preparedness
University of Bath
Earthquake wave and circle vibration
Updates

Shockwave caused by Tonga underwater eruption may help scientists predict future tsunami

Using data from the eruption of the Tonga underwater volcano, a research group at Nagoya University has used disturbances in the earth’s upper atmosphere to track the airwaves that cause tsunami. Their findings may lead to speedier tsunami predictions.
EurekAlert
The city of Nukualofa in Tonga.
Updates

Tonga recovers its voice in the wake of deadly volcanic eruption

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in January 2022 was a stark reminder of how telecommunications preparedness can mean the difference between silence and life-saving response.
World Food Programme
Street in Nuku'alofa on Tongatapu island, Tonga.
Updates

Tonga shares experience after trialing impact analysis methodology tools

Tonga’s experience after trialing an Impact Analysis methodology on the groyne structure at Hahake District and the rock barrier at Ahau village has been shared with other countries to inform the work in measuring the progress of climate change adaptation
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme