Sonar Data Reveals Why Tonga’s 2022 Volcano Collapse Triggered Record Tsunami
New research published in Nature Geoscience explains why the 2022 Hunga-Tonga eruption produced the largest tsunami ever recorded from an underwater volcano. By comparing rare pre- and post-eruption sonar maps, scientists determined that the volcano’s caldera collapsed as a single, massive block, displacing nearly 9 cubic kilometers of material. This rapid, piston-like subsidence displaced enough ocean water to generate waves up to 40 meters high, challenging previous assumptions that only large volcanic structures could cause such extreme hazards.
