1st mega-tsunami on record since antiquity was triggered by Tonga volcanic eruption

The Tonga underwater volcanic eruption rivaled the strength of the largest U.S. nuclear bomb and produced a "mega-tsunami" nearly the height of a 30-story skyscraper, a recent study finds(opens in new tab).

On Jan. 15, 2022, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai submarine volcano — a large, cone-shaped mountain located near the islands of the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific — erupted with a violent explosion. The eruption generated the highest-ever recorded volcanic plume, which reached 35 miles (57 kilometers) tall. The outburst triggered tsunamis as far away as the Caribbean, as well as atmospheric waves that traveled around the globe several times.

To determine the strength of the eruption, scientists collected before-and-after satellite optical and radar images, drone maps and field observations to generate a computer simulation of the catastrophe.