Tonga’s volcanic explosion; need to know about powerful occasion

Tonga’s volcanic explosion was a powerful occasion, evidenced by a sonic boom, a quake, and tsunami waves.

The Tonga’s volcanic explosion, which occurred beneath the ocean’s surface, was one of those rare events that resulted in tsunami waves. Reporting to the United States Geological Survey, the eruption caused the equivalent of a magnitude 5.8 earthquake.

Hunga Tonga’s eruption The Hunga Haapai volcano on Tonga’s southern Pacific island was no minor occurrence. It caused tsunami waves all over the Pacific and suffocated Tonga in the dust. The Saturday eruption was so powerful that it was record worldwide and sent pressure shockwaves around the world twice.

As more information about the natural occurrence becomes available, here’s a look at a volcanic eruption and the global impact of what happened in Tonga.

What exactly is a volcanic eruption?

Before discussing volcanic eruptions, it is necessary to define a volcano. A volcano is an void or rupture in the Earth’s surface that allows magma to escape as hot liquid and semi-liquid rock, as well as volcanic ash and gases.

Volcanic hotspots are found where the Earth’s tectonic plates collide. A volcanic eruption ensues when lava or gas are eject from a volcano, sometimes violently.

This eruption occurs in a volcano located beneath the ocean’s surface. There are approximately one million undersea volcanoes, most of which are located near tectonic plates.

These openings spew not only lava but also ash. These settle on the ocean floor, resulting in sea mounds, which are underwater mountains that form on the ocean floor but do not reach the water’s surface.

How many active volcanoes do we have on the planet?

According to the USGS, there are approximately 1,350 potentially active volcanoes on the planet. According to USGS data, about 500 of these have erupted. Many of these are found along the Pacific Ocean’s rim, known as the “Ring of Fire.”

The effect of volcanic eruptions on the Earth’s climate

Massive volcanic eruptions can occasionally cause temporary global cooling by releasing sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. However, in the case of the Tonga eruption, preliminary satellite measurements indicated that the amount of sulfur dioxide released would only have a negligible effect on global average cooling of perhaps 0.01 Celsius (0.02 Fahrenheit), according to Alan Robock, a professor at Rutgers University.