The
Little Island expanded to a size of 24,000 square metres after a volcanic
eruption that took place 11 hours earlier.
Near the Pacific island of Tonga, seismic activity is frequent. In the southwest Pacific Ocean, a new island has formed as a result of an underwater volcano called the Home Reef erupting, spewing lava, ash, and steam.
According to a statement from the US space agency NASA, the
island appeared 11 hours after the eruption on September 10 that coloured the
surrounding seas.
Using satellites, NASA was able to capture images of the new land mass. Near the centre of the island of Tonga, on the Home Reef seamount, is where the volcano is located.
"On September 14, 2022, as plumes of discoloured water
swirled nearby, the Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) on Landsat 9 recorded
this natural-colour photo of the nascent island," according to the
announcement.
Previous studies indicate that sulphur, volcanic rock
fragments, and particulate particles are present in these plumes of
superheated, acidic seawater.
The island was estimated by Tonga Geological Services to be
4,000 square metres (43,055 square feet) in size and 10.1 metres (33 feet)
above sea level as of September 14. However, the agency reported on September
20 that the island had significantly expanded to 24,000 square metres (258,333
square feet).
The new island was discovered in the Pacific Ocean's southwest [NASA Earth Observatory]
According to NASA, some islands formed by submerged volcanoes
can last for years, however, most do not.
"The population of Vava'u and Ha'apai and the aviation
community are at low risk from the volcano... However, until notice, all
mariners are urged to sail more than 4 kilometres (2.49 miles) away from Home
Reef ", according to TGS.
Around Tonga, an archipelago nation with 171 islands and a
population of 100,000, seismic activity is frequent.
Home Reef volcanoes have previously erupted in 1852, 1857,
1984, and 2006, with the last two eruptions creating islands that are 50 to 70
metres (164-229 ft) high.
According to a recent NASA news release, the water's clouding is likely the result of acidic seawater that has been heated to a high temperature and mixed with volcanic rock and debris.
According to TGS on September 20, the volcano "poses minor dangers to the aviation community and the communities of Vava'u and Ha'apai."
However, until further notice, "all mariners are urged
to travel beyond 4 kilometres away from Home Reef."
Since September 25, no more volcanic ash or steam had been observed originating from this part of the Pacific. We should take advantage of Home Reef's most recent gift to the sea while we still have the chance because it is likely to be finished soon.
According to the space agency, there are other underwater
volcanoes on the Home Reef, a seafloor ridge that runs from Tonga to New Zealand.
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