What kind of volcano is Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai?

Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai is classified as a Caldera in Tonga. Its tectonic setting is Subduction zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km).

How is seismicity near Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai monitored here?

Earthquakes within 50 km of the crater are aggregated from 18 seismic networks and checked against a swarm rule that compares the current rate with this volcano's own 30-day background. Ash advisories come from the VAAC centres that are connected.

Photo:NOAA / CSU / CIRA

Volcano Dossier•GVP #243040

20.55°S, 175.38°W

Erupted since 2000

Volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai

Q: When did Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai last erupt?

The most recent eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 2022.

Q: How is seismicity near Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai monitored here?

Earthquakes within 50 km of the crater are aggregated from 18 seismic networks and checked against a swarm rule that compares the current rate with this volcano's own 30-day background. Ash advisories come from the VAAC centres that are connected.

Un volcan en grande partie sous-marin dont l'éruption du 15 janvier 2022 fut l'explosion la plus puissante jamais enregistrée par des instruments modernes. Le panache a atteint 57 km, dans la mésosphère, l'onde de pression a fait plusieurs fois le tour de la Terre et des tsunamis ont frappé les côtes de tout le Pacifique ; elle a aussi injecté une quantité record de vapeur d'eau dans la stratosphère.

Last Eruption

2022

Erupted since 2000

Summit Elevation

0.1 km

Caldeira · Andésite / Andésite basaltique

Seismic State

Normal Baseline

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.

Heure	Magnitude	Épicentre / lieu	Distance	Profondeur
1mo ago	M4.9	Au large de Nukuʻalofa (30 km NO, Tonga)	49 km	157.8 km
1mo ago	M4.9	Au large de Nukuʻalofa (30 km NO, Tonga)	49 km	157.8 km
1mo ago	M4.8	Au large de Nukuʻalofa (30 km NO, Tonga)	49 km	121.9 km

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Caldeira

Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai is an active Caldera formed in an active Subduction zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km). Dominant lithology: Andesite / Basaltic Andesite.

Edifice TypeCaldeira

Major RockAndésite / Andésite basaltique

Tectonic SettingZone de subduction

Volcanic ArcArc volcanique Tofua

Volcanic Dossier

VN #243040

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

PaysTonga

Coordonnées du cratère-20.553°, -175.384°

Summit Elevation0.1 km

SubregionArc volcanique Tofua

Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#243040)

Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure

All 18 Networks & VAAC →

Seismic ObservatoryGSN / FDSN

Global Seismographic Network & Regional Centers

Official Portal

ICAO Aviation Ash Center

ICAO Volcanic Ash Advisory Network

International Civil Aviation Organization

VAAC Advisory Desk

Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →

Questions fréquentes (FAQ)

Protocoles scientifiques, opérationnels et d’urgence vérifiés

The most recent eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 2022.

Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile