View in EDS

Numerical simulations reveal the dynamics of the most intense eruption of Hunga Tonga in January 2022.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Numerical simulations reveal the dynamics of the most intense eruption of Hunga Tonga in January 2022.
Authors: Suzuki, Yujiro J.1 (AUTHOR) yujiro@eri.u-tokyo.ac.jp, Martínez Montesinos, Beatriz2,3 (AUTHOR), Costa, Antonio2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Bulletin of Volcanology. Dec2025, Vol. 87 Issue 12, p1-16. 16p.
Subject Terms: *Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Eruption & Tsunami, 2022, *Computer simulation, *Volcanic ash, tuff, etc., *Submarine volcanoes, *Ecological impact, *Sulfur dioxide, *Volcanic eruptions
Abstract: A violent undersea explosive eruption occurred at Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai volcano on 15 January 2022, generating an eruption cloud more intense than any previously observed. We performed numerical simulations of eruption cloud dynamics using a 3D fluid-dynamic model and an ensemble-based tephra dispersal inversion model to reconstruct the eruption's climactic phase and compare it with available observations. Our results reveal that during this phase, 190–1500 Tg of seawater interacted with magma, producing a mass flow rate of the eruptive magmatic mixture of 3.2–6.3 × 10⁹ kg s−1, which is several times more intense than the 1991 Pinatubo eruption. Moreover, we show that the eruption cloud, which injected approximately 1 Tg of volcanic ash and 0.1 Tg of seawater into the mesosphere, was in a state of thermal disequilibrium with the surrounding environment. The eruption injected 0.3–11 Tg sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. These results suggest that a substantial amount of magmatic material, water vapor, and sulfur dioxide was injected into the stratosphere and mesosphere during this eruption, which could have a significant impact on the global climate several years after the eruption. Our work also shows the importance of high-resolution simulations in capturing the complex dynamics of eruption plumes generated by undersea volcanic eruptions, leading to more accurate predictions of eruption impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 190381479
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Numerical simulations reveal the dynamics of the most intense eruption of Hunga Tonga in January 2022.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Suzuki%2C+Yujiro+J%2E%22">Suzuki, Yujiro J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> yujiro@eri.u-tokyo.ac.jp</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Martínez+Montesinos%2C+Beatriz%22">Martínez Montesinos, Beatriz</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Costa%2C+Antonio%22">Costa, Antonio</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Bulletin+of+Volcanology%22">Bulletin of Volcanology</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 87 Issue 12, p1-16. 16p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hunga+Tonga-Hunga+Ha'apai+Eruption+%26+Tsunami%2C+2022%22">Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Eruption & Tsunami, 2022</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+simulation%22">Computer simulation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Volcanic+ash%2C+tuff%2C+etc%2E%22">Volcanic ash, tuff, etc.</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Submarine+volcanoes%22">Submarine volcanoes</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecological+impact%22">Ecological impact</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sulfur+dioxide%22">Sulfur dioxide</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Volcanic+eruptions%22">Volcanic eruptions</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: A violent undersea explosive eruption occurred at Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai volcano on 15 January 2022, generating an eruption cloud more intense than any previously observed. We performed numerical simulations of eruption cloud dynamics using a 3D fluid-dynamic model and an ensemble-based tephra dispersal inversion model to reconstruct the eruption's climactic phase and compare it with available observations. Our results reveal that during this phase, 190–1500 Tg of seawater interacted with magma, producing a mass flow rate of the eruptive magmatic mixture of 3.2–6.3 × 10⁹ kg s−1, which is several times more intense than the 1991 Pinatubo eruption. Moreover, we show that the eruption cloud, which injected approximately 1 Tg of volcanic ash and 0.1 Tg of seawater into the mesosphere, was in a state of thermal disequilibrium with the surrounding environment. The eruption injected 0.3–11 Tg sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. These results suggest that a substantial amount of magmatic material, water vapor, and sulfur dioxide was injected into the stratosphere and mesosphere during this eruption, which could have a significant impact on the global climate several years after the eruption. Our work also shows the importance of high-resolution simulations in capturing the complex dynamics of eruption plumes generated by undersea volcanic eruptions, leading to more accurate predictions of eruption impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=190381479
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s00445-025-01919-9
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Eruption & Tsunami, 2022
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer simulation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Volcanic ash, tuff, etc.
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Submarine volcanoes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ecological impact
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sulfur dioxide
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Volcanic eruptions
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Numerical simulations reveal the dynamics of the most intense eruption of Hunga Tonga in January 2022.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Suzuki, Yujiro J.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Martínez Montesinos, Beatriz
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Costa, Antonio
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 02588900
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 87
            – Type: issue
              Value: 12
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Bulletin of Volcanology
              Type: main
ResultId 1