Volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai
A mostly submarine volcano whose eruption on 15 January 2022 was the most powerful explosion ever recorded by modern instruments. The plume reached 57 km into the mesosphere, the pressure wave circled the Earth several times and tsunamis struck coasts around the Pacific; it also injected a record amount of water vapour into the stratosphere.
Last Eruption
Erupted since 2000
Summit Elevation
Caldera · Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Seismic State
0 events (1.0x rate)
Interactive Volcano & Seismicity Map
Seismicity within 50 km radius, active VAAC ash plumes, and tectonic plate boundaries.
Recent seismicity within 50 km
0 events in the last 12 h within 25 km of the crater.
| Time | Magnitude | Epicenter / Place | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1mo ago | M4.9 | Off the coast of Nuku'alofa (30 km NW, Tonga) | 49 km |
| 1mo ago | M4.9 | Off the coast of Nuku'alofa (30 km NW, Tonga) | 49 km |
| 1mo ago | M4.8 | Off the coast of Nuku'alofa (30 km NW, Tonga) | 49 km |
Geological & Tectonic Profile
CalderaHunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai is an active Caldera formed in an active Subduction zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km). Dominant lithology: Andesite / Basaltic Andesite.
Volcanic Dossier
VN #243040Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.
Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols
Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile