Sea floor around Tongan volcano dropped more than 700m
A study by marine geoscientists reveals that the 2022 Hunga volcano eruption caused the surrounding sea floor to drop by over 700 meters. Researchers are using this data to improve global volcanic monitoring and early-warning systems.
Why it matters
Understanding the geological impact of such massive eruptions is critical for improving disaster preparedness and tsunami warning accuracy.
The Hunga volcano near Tonga produced the most explosive eruption of the last century, and its impact was so strong it dropped the surrounding sea floor by more than 700 metres. The massive eruption and its after-effects have continued to be studied by scientists from around the world, including marine geoscientist Dr Marta Ribo from AUT, who's led work studying the sea floor changes.
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