Why the volcanic eruption in Tonga was so violent, and what to expect next
- Written by Shane Cronin, Professor of Earth Sciences, University of Auckland
The Kingdom of Tonga doesn’t often attract global attention, but a violent eruption of an underwater volcano on January 15 has spread shock waves, quite literally, around half the world.
The volcano is usually not much to look at. It consists of two small uninhabited islands, Hunga-Ha’apai and Hunga-Tonga, poking about 100m above sea...





