Reflecting on the recent newsworthy volcanic eruptions mentioned above I did some [rather unproductive] searching for recent research on the impact of volcanic dust on climate. I did however encounter an intriguing paper on the correlation between Volcanic impact and political upheaval which I feel sure some posters will enjoy thinking about:

"State or societal collapses are often described as featuring rapid reductions in socioeconomic complexity, population loss or displacement, and/or political discontinuity, with climate thought to contribute mainly by disrupting a society’s agroecological base."

Volcanic climate impacts can act as ultimate and proximate causes of Chinese dynastic collapse
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00284-7

Roger

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I’m keeping a very close eye on Iceland this morning as there is a very large ongoing swarm of activity where the earlier eruption was. There could be a new event very shortly.

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Hadn't spotted that, ty for the heads up

Certainly a rather dramatic uptick in tremor:-

Fagradalsfjall Iceland Earthquake Live Stream - YouTube

Existing crater has some smoke/steam rising although not sure that's unusual as it's been doing that since the eruption stopped, presumably just latent heat.

 

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MDL Iceland cam caught a small tremor at the Geldingadair volcano just after 3pm today:


You can even see a few rocks being shaken out of place on the volcano itself.

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Just caught this on the news, Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai eruption;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-60007119

Some of what is being reported in terms of where impacts are being felt is astonishing (e.g sounds of the eruption being heard over 500 miles away).

 

Ash cloud of 100,000 feet? As being reported over here in Australia. That’s a very large eruption.

The footage shows it is a very powerful eruption. The satellite imagery is remarkable: 

 

 

The shock wave generated by the recent eruption of Hunga Tonga #volcano is even visible on satellite imagery. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/5Hih2mPePs

— CyanideCN (@CyanideCN_) January 15, 2022

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Short clip here - impressive and frightening. There is a lot of low land in Tonga and many people could be affected.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-60007163

Here's the NZ coverage:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/459618/live-updates-tsunami-advisory-for-parts-of-nz-s-north-island-waves-crashing-into-tonga

 

Roger

 

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The pressure wave was detected as it passed over Auckland, with a 4mb pressure blip. That’s 1,250 miles away.

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I wonder what the VEI is for the eruption?

Some "InfoGraphics" from NZ.

Tonga: Size of eruption put into perspective (InfoGraphics & Maps)
https://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/tonga-size-of-eruption-put-into-perspective-x4-infographics

Roger

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Do you think will be able to detect a pressure wave in the UK? It should be around 5pm I'd have thought.

Reminds me of Mt St Helens and sudden explosive eruption. 

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Boom!!

https://twitter.com/Chimp_83/status/1482265201898577921?s=20

 

 Looks like it's more than 5.  7 looks too high.

A low 6?

I see the entire west coast of the US and Canada are under a tsunami advisory currently with a (relatively) small tsunami impacting certain parts. The amount of energy released in this eruption seems immense and I have read reports of the shockwave been heard in Alaska (confirmed by the NWS).

This is Santa Cruz CA a short while go:

 

WATCH: Tsunami from Tonga volcano eruption starting to cause minor flooding in Santa Cruz, California pic.twitter.com/ELq8IKMEUV

— BNO News (@BNONews) January 15, 2022

And a second surge at the same location: https://twitter.com/TimCatteraPhoto/status/1482396514504691713 

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I was thinking at least a 5 myself but I was reading this which would suggest only 2 if I'm reading it correctly.

 

https://www.gdacs.org/report.aspx?eventtype=VO&eventid=1000036

 

Surely it's bigger than a 2.

Get away from shore: US and Japan warn on tsunami - BBC News

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-60007119.

 

My WS has just recently recorded the increased pressure reading associated with the shockwave from the eruption. Just a small but very noticeable blip. Really impressive.

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What were your readings, could you maybe even post a graph?

That is remarkable - the shock wave has travelled half way around the planet.

 

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As I said, nothing too exciting or noteworthy unless you knew what you were looking for, but here you go. 

It’s the blip to the right. It was basically a 1hPa increase (when pressure had been falling all day and currently is) followed by a quick 2hPa drop.

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I've just looked at mine and there's a blip here too - or an up then down. And the barometer seems to have settled down 1mb lower...

 

 

Yup, quite like that here too.

This event today really does put in perspective how powerful our planet is, and ultimately how insignificant we really are.

Absolutely fascinating day

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