On January 14–15, 2022, the island of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai was destroyed by a volcanic explosion, estimated to be equivalent to a 10-megaton blast. The underwater volcano “Tonga” is located in the South Pacific situated under the uninhabited island of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai, now obliterated.
This eruption triggered tsunami warnings throughout the Pacific Ocean. The sonic wave was heard as far away as the Yukon region in Alaska, over 6,000 miles (10,000 km) away. Residents of Alaska report being woken up between 5:00 pm and 6:45 pm to a loud rumbling. Scientists believe the sonic boom was the loudest sound on earth to happen since the 1883 eruption of Krakatau in Indonesia, which was estimated to be 235 dB in the epicenter.
It is reported that shifting along the subduction zone caused seawater to enter into the magma formed chambers below the island. The combination of temperature change, pressure, water, and rock contributed to the once in a lifetime sonic event.
For more information review the reference articles below.
References
Brumfiel G. (2022) NASA Scientists Estimate Tonga Blast at 10 megatons. NPR. Morning Edition. January 18.
Carroll L. (2022) Noise from Underwater Volcanic Eruption across the Pacific Heard in the Yukon. CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada. January 15.
Staab W. (2016) Loudest Sound. Hearing Health Matters. November 22.
Recent Posts
Academy, ADA, and ASHA Announce the Introduction of MAAIA in the Senate
The American Academy of Audiology, Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA), and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) are pleased to announce the introduction of the Medicare…
Admission Rates of Neonatal Intensive Care Units in the United States
Pediatric audiology case-history questionnaires often ask about birth history and time spent in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). As such, audiologists who routinely see…
A New Flexible Auditory Brainstem Implant
An auditory brainstem implant (ABI) provides the sensation of sound to individuals who are deaf due to neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) or a severely compromised or…