The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-HungaHa’apai volcano in January 2022 was one of the worst eruptions in recent times, a new study confirmed. Led by researchers from the University of Bath and published today, the study incorporates extensive satellite data and low-level observations to show that the explosion was unique in science marked by magnitude and speed, as well as the speed of rapid gravity and the atmosphere that created them. Following a series of minor incidents starting in December 2021, Hunga Tonga erupted on January 15 this year, producing a straight line that stretched more than 50 miles (30 miles) above the earth’s surface. Heat from the water and hot ashes from the roof remained the main source of gravity for the next 12 hours. The eruption also produced gravitational waves, such as satellite waves that swept across the Pacific.
The eruption also caused waves in our atmosphere to travel around the planet at least six times and reach close to its highest imaginable speed – the fastest ever seen in our universe, 320m per second or 720 miles per hour. The event, which is being hosted by such a large region, is described by the authors of this paper as unique to the observational record, which will help scientists improve future weather and climate.Dr. Corwin Wright, Royal Society University Research Fellow based in the Center for Space, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science at the University of Bath, is the lead author of the paper. He said: “This is a really big explosion, and it’s really unique in terms of what science has seen so far. We’ve never seen a wave of air around the world before, or at this speed – they were moving so close Until the end of theory.” The explosion was an amazing natural exploration. The data we were able to collect would improve our understanding of the weather and help us improve our climate and climate. “
Another author, Dr. Scott Osprey, from the National Center for Space Science, based within the Department of Environment, Oxford University, looks forward to seeing some of the effects of the Hunga Tonga eruption: However, my gut feeling is that there is a lot more to come because of this explosion, it will be difficult in the spring.
Researchers at the University of Bath, Oxford University, North West Research Associates, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Forschungszentrum Juelich, AIRES, Sorbonne Université, Virginia Tech, Raytheon Technologies, University of Colorado and NASA worked on the study. Researchers have received funding from the Natural Environment Research Council, the Royal Society, NASA, and the European Research Council. Bath researchers are now focusing on working with colleagues in weather forecasting agencies to see how the information gathered in this explosion can be used to improve forecasts in the future.
What is volcanoes & their hazards:
Volcano risk means any volcanic process that could endanger human lives, livelihoods or infrastructure at risk of injury. A few hazards may affect the area around the volcano, such as mudflats, pyroclastic flows, lahars, jökulhlaups and landslides or debris avalanches. Volcanoes also produce hazards that could affect remote areas of the volcano, such as tephra or ash falls, gas emissions and tsunamis. Such hazards could affect hundreds of thousands of miles from the volcano, which could have serious health and economic consequences.
Although volcanoes can be dangerous, there are many reasons why people live near them. It can have emotional, social, and economic benefits. For those who live close to volcanoes, knowledge of volcanic hazards is simply a means to an end.
Tephra and the ashes fall
Volcanic products are usually named in the size of a clast (particles), which can range from meters to microns in size. ‘Tephra’ is used as a grip to describe all the cracked layers no matter how large, while the term ‘ash’ refers to particles less than 2 mm in size. During an eruption, most of the tephra will fall to the ground around the volcano. This can load the roofs of buildings and obscure road signs, making travel difficult. Loading of tephra on the leaves can lead to plant burrows or pruning of branches, which has a significant impact on agriculture.
The delicate nature of volcanic ash means that it is easily transported by winds up to hundreds of thousands of miles from the volcano. It can also be sent up into the air, sometimes reaching into the stratosphere. Ashes are composed of small, sharp pieces, glass, and other volcanic rocks; because of its explosive nature, volcanic ash can cause damage to aircraft.
Various gases can be released by volcanic eruptions before, during or after an eruption and can cause various health hazards in the area, but also have the potential to affect global climate. The five main health hazards are:
• carbon dioxide
• hydrogen chloride
• hydrogen fluoride
• hydrogen sulfide
• sulfur dioxide
Humans can be exposed to dangerous volcanic gases either by inhaling them or by touching their skin and eyes. Health effects range from mild to severe, with occasional fatal exposure. After exposure, people may report difficulty breathing and itchy skin.
Flow of lava and lava domes
The lava flow is the flow of magma that extends over the volcano. In general, it is not uncommon for lava to cause direct loss of life, as it usually flows slowly, allowing enough time for people to be drained. However, it destroys everything in its path with a combination of burial, crushing and burning. Such eruptions are associated with the release of volcanic gases and aerosols.
Viscosity – how easily the liquid can flow – lava flow usually increases with silica content and decreases with increasing temperature and water content. Low-viscosity, iron / magnesium-rich basalt is the most abundant liquid in common lava species and usually explodes at temperatures of 1100–1200 ° C. It can flow longer distances in comparison. Andesites are high viscosity, rich in silicon with less liquid than basalt and explode at temperatures of about 700–900 ° C. They form a short, thick flow or volcanic mud on the upper sides not far from the craters. The flow rate of lavas usually ranges from a few feet per hour on high-silica, andesitic lava to a few miles per hour on liquid basalts.
Lava domes formed when high-viscosity mudslides erupted slowly from the volcano. Due to the high light intensity of the volcanic mud, it cannot travel long distances and form volcanic mud. These mud houses are especially dangerous as they tend to be unstable and collapse, resulting in pyroclastic congestion.
Basalts floods
Flood basalts are an alternative to lava flow. These eruptions are rare and our understanding of these phenomena is based on previous exploration studies in places like the Deccan Traps in India, or the Siberian Traps. Such eruptions affect large areas, the size of a continent (over a million square miles), They can be up to a kilometer thick and emit large amounts of gas; they can cause air pollution and contribute to global climate change.
We can learn a lot from the basalts of the floods that occurred in Iceland. In 2014, the Holuhraun fissure eruption reached basalt flood levels. It now floods the largest basalt in Iceland since the Laki eruption in 1783-1784, resulting in the death of about 20 percent of Icelanders from pollution and famine. It is also possible to increase the death toll elsewhere in Europe, by air pollution with sulfur-containing gas and aerosols. Happily, basalt floods are extremely rare!
