New Study Suggests Gas Build-Up, Not Magma-Water Interaction, Behind 2022 Tonga Eruption
In Canberra, Australia, scientists are revising their understanding of the 2022 Tonga eruption, offering a new theory that challenges previous explanations. The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano on January 15 created a powerful lightning storm and a mega-tsunami, leaving researchers puzzled about the exact cause. Previous research pointed to the merging of magma chambers as the trigger for the eruption, but the specific mechanism behind the blast remained unclear. In a study …