5 ms·
A few times a year at least; this one was just more visivle than most because it happened just under the surface in an area of more or less open ocean, so there
by wayoutthere 5y ago
A few times a year at least; this one was just more visivle than most because it happened just under the surface in an area of more or less open ocean, so there was nothing to deflect the shockwaves. It also started erupting in December so there were already satellites paying attention to it.
- pmayrgundter 5y agoI heard an initial estimate (sorry, nothing solid yet) that it was VEI 4 or 5, so more like every 10 years. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanic_Explosivity_Index https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanic_Explosivity_Index https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/msh/comparisons.html https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/msh/comparisons.html
- pmayrgundter 5y agoThis article says more like VEI6 https://graphics.reuters.com/TONGA-VOLCANO/lgpdwjyqbvo/ https://graphics.reuters.com/TONGA-VOLCANO/lgpdwjyqbvo/
- carbocation 5y ago> Early data from Tonga's violent volcanic eruption suggests it is the biggest blast since Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines 30 years ago, volcanologist Shane Cronin says. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/459657/tonga-eruption-likely-the-world-s-largest-in-30-years-scientist https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/459657/tonga-eruption-likel...
- Denvercoder9 5y ago> It also started erupting in December so there were already satellites paying attention to it. All images I've seen are from satellites and/or constellations that watch the whole Earth or a fixed part of the Earth, none have been tasked to specifically watch this area because of the eruption.