Small undersea volcanoes may unleash outsized tsunamis
Researchers studying the 2022 Hunga caldera eruption in Tonga have discovered that rapid underwater caldera collapse can trigger unexpectedly large tsunamis. This finding suggests that even smaller undersea volcanoes pose a significant, previously underestimated threat to coastal regions.
Why it matters
Understanding the mechanics of volcanic tsunamis is critical for improving early warning systems and disaster preparedness for coastal communities worldwide.
A big drop Small undersea volcanoes may unleash outsized tsunamis Post-eruption imaging of the Hunga caldera gives new details of its collapse.
1 The Hunga volcano during a 2009 eruption. Credit: TELUSA FOTU The Hunga volcano during a 2009 eruption. Credit: TELUSA FOTU Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Krakatau, a volcanic island in Indonesia, killed more than 30,000 people when it erupted in 1883. One might assume that volcanic debris posed the major threat, yet many of the victims died from a tsunami caused by the volcanic eruption instead.
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