Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai, located in the South Pacific Kingdom of Tonga, has erupted three times in less than thirty days. The volcano has sporadically erupted since 2009 with the most recent activity beginning in late December 2021 when a series of Surtseyan eruptions built up and reshaped the island while sending bursts of tephra and volcanic gases spewing from the vent.

On Jan.13, 2022, NOAA’s GOES West satellite captured the second eruption. According to local officials, the eruption had a radius of 161.5 miles and sent ash, steam, and gas 12.4 miles into the air. It was more powerful than the previous eruption on Dec. 20, but an even more intense series of explosions began on January 15. The eruptions generated atmospheric shock waves, sonic booms, and tsunami waves that traveled the world and were heard as far away as Alaska.