Study describes the exceptional scale of the 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption
The 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption produced an exceptionally large underwater explosion. Its plume reached about 57 kilometres and increased stratospheric water vapour by roughly 10%.
By DoomRadar · Published on DoomRadar .
Why it matters
The eruption demonstrates the potential for major volcanic events to affect the atmosphere on a global scale.
Related source links
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- The 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption produced the largest underwater explosion ever recorded by modern instruments. Its plume climbed approximately 57 kilometres—higher than any volcanic plume observed during the satellite era—and injected enough water vapour to increase the stratosphere's global water content by roughly 10%. ↗scienceblog.com · Recorded source date: Aug 24, 2026, 12:17 PM UTC
- When Hunga Tonga erupted underwater in 2022, it fired so much water vapour into the upper atmosphere that it measurably increased the total amount of water in the stratosphere, and scientists are still tracking how it may nudge the climate for years. ↗scienceblog.com · Recorded source date: Aug 24, 2026, 10:16 PM UTC
- In 2022, the Hunga Tonga eruption sent huge amounts of water vapour into the stratosphere, causing changes in ozone levels and radiation effects ↗timesofindia.indiatimes.com · Recorded source date: Aug 25, 2026, 11:32 AM UTC
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