The scientists are offering a new theory for the extreme force behind the 2022 Tonga eruption. They believe the built-up gas, and not the interaction of magma and water, might have been the prime culprit.

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, an underwater volcano in the South Pacific Ocean, erupted on January 15, 2022, releasing the most powerful lightning storm ever recorded and also the first known mega-tsunami since ancient times.&nbsp;

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While previous research signified that the underwater eruption was due to the two merging magma chambers, exactly what sparked the blast was unclear.&nbsp;

"Past explanations focused on magma meeting seawater," the researchers wrote in a new study published in the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research on April 21. However, they found this unlikely due to limitations in heat transfer and a lack of clear satellite evidence.

Instead, they wrote, water depth and satellite observations point to a massive buildup of gas underneath a seal inside the volcano that unexpectedly broke on Jan&nbsp;15 after a series of smaller eruptions between Dec&nbsp;19, 2021, and Jan&nbsp;13, 2022.&nbsp;

"What we saw during this event was a Plinian eruption," lead author Richard Henley, an honorary professor of material physics at the Australian National University, said. "These are the common kind most people think of when picturing an erupting volcano."&nbsp;

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However, Henley and his team propose a new factor behind the intense explosiveness of Plinian eruptions, including the record-breaking Tonga event. Their findings challenge past theories that blamed the violence on magma-seawater interaction. Notably, this suggests the immense power of the Tonga eruption wasn't dependent on its underwater location.

"The eruption at Hunga has opened our eyes," co-author Cornel de Ronde, principal scientist at the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited in New Zealand, said in the statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

The scientists are offering a new theory for the extreme force behind the 2022 Tonga eruption. They believe the built-up gas, and not the interaction of magma and water, might have been the prime culprit.

The scientists are offering a new theory for the extreme force behind the 2022 Tonga eruption. They believe the built-up gas, and not the interaction of magma and water, might have been the prime culprit. The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, an underwater volcano in the South Pacific Ocean, erupted on January 15, 2022, releasing the most powerful lightning storm ever recorded and also the first known mega-tsunami since ancient times. Also read: Heartbreaking reality: Over 321,000 children left orphaned due to America's drug epidemic between 2011-2021 While previous research signified that the underwater eruption was due to the two merging magma chambers, exactly what sparked the blast was unclear. "Past explanations focused on magma meeting seawater," the researchers wrote in a new study published in the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research on April 21. However, they found this unlikely due to limitations in heat transfer and a lack of clear satellite evidence. Instead, they wrote, water depth and satellite observations point to a massive buildup of gas underneath a seal inside the volcano that unexpectedly broke on Jan 15 after a series of smaller eruptions between Dec 19, 2021, and Jan 13, 2022. "What we saw during this event was a Plinian eruption," lead author Richard Henley, an honorary professor of material physics at the Australian National University, said. "These are the common kind most people think of when picturing an erupting volcano." Also read: Is an ocean of magma creating atmosphere on this 'Super Earth'? The possibility has scientists excited However, Henley and his team propose a new factor behind the intense explosiveness of Plinian eruptions, including the record-breaking Tonga event. Their findings challenge past theories that blamed the violence on magma-seawater interaction. Notably, this suggests the immense power of the Tonga eruption wasn't dependent on its underwater location. "The eruption at Hunga has opened our eyes," co-author Cornel de Ronde, principal scientist at the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited in New Zealand, said in the statement. (With inputs from agencies)

The 2022 underwater Tonga eruption likely happened because of THIS reason

India has extended assistance towards the disaster-hit Tonga in order to help the South Pacific nation in relief and reconstruction efforts, the ministry of external affairs informed on Tuesday (January 25).&nbsp;

Tonga was hit by a massive volcanic eruption and a tsunami on January 15 and has asked for aid as there is a scarcity of drinking water and food.&nbsp;

Amid the devastation caused by the disaster, India has extended relief assistance of $ 200,000 to support relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the nation.&nbsp;

The country has also urged for aid assistance to be delivered without human contact as the authorities are concerned that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak would be devastating for the nation.&nbsp;

In a statement, the ministry informed, "India extends deep sympathy to the Government and the people of the Kingdom of Tonga for the damage and destruction caused by this unprecedented disaster."

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🇮🇳🇹🇴| India extends assistance of US$ 200,000 to Tonga towards relief and reconstruction efforts in the wake of the tsunami. 
 
Press Release ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/SYYCNT400J">https://t.co/SYYCNT400J</a><a href="https://twitter.com/tongaportal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tongaportal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TongaMfa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TongaMfa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/fekita_u?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fekita_u</a>
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1485891706696323073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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"As a close friend and partner under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) and as a gesture of solidarity with the friendly people of Tonga, Government of India extends an immediate relief assistance of US$ 200,000 to support relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the Kingdom of Tonga," the statement added.&nbsp;

"India has firmly stood by Tonga during times of crisis and devastation caused by natural disasters, as during Cyclone Gita in 2018. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management is an important pillar of India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2019," the statement added. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

India has extended assistance towards the disaster-hit Tonga in order to help the South Pacific nation in relief and reconstruction efforts, the ministry of external affairs informed on Tuesday (January 25).

India has extended assistance towards the disaster-hit Tonga in order to help the South Pacific nation in relief and reconstruction efforts, the ministry of external affairs informed on Tuesday (January 25). Tonga was hit by a massive volcanic eruption and a tsunami on January 15 and has asked for aid as there is a scarcity of drinking water and food. Amid the devastation caused by the disaster, India has extended relief assistance of $ 200,000 to support relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the nation. The country has also urged for aid assistance to be delivered without human contact as the authorities are concerned that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak would be devastating for the nation. In a statement, the ministry informed, "India extends deep sympathy to the Government and the people of the Kingdom of Tonga for the damage and destruction caused by this unprecedented disaster." 🇮🇳🇹🇴| India extends assistance of US$ 200,000 to Tonga towards relief and reconstruction efforts in the wake of the tsunami. Press Release ➡️ https://t.co/SYYCNT400J@tongaportal @TongaMfa @fekita_u — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) January 25, 2022 × "As a close friend and partner under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) and as a gesture of solidarity with the friendly people of Tonga, Government of India extends an immediate relief assistance of US$ 200,000 to support relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the Kingdom of Tonga," the statement added. "India has firmly stood by Tonga during times of crisis and devastation caused by natural disasters, as during Cyclone Gita in 2018. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management is an important pillar of India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2019," the statement added.

India extends assistance to tsunami-hit Tonga towards relief and reconstruction efforts

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The 2022 underwater Tonga eruption likely happened because of THIS reason

India extends assistance to tsunami-hit Tonga towards relief and reconstruction efforts