Volcano F (Tonga)

Volcano F
Map
Highest point
Elevation−40 metres (−130 ft)[1]
ListingList of volcanoes in Tonga
Coordinates18°19′30″S 174°21′54″W / 18.325°S 174.365°W / -18.325; -174.365
Geography
LocationTonga Islands
Geology
Mountain typeCaldera
Last eruption6–8 August 2019[2]

Volcano F (also known as Volcano 0403-091) is a submarine volcano in the Tonga Islands of the South Pacific Ocean. It is located 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Vavaʻu, between Late and Fonualei on the Tofua ridge. It is part of the highly active Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone and its associated volcanic arc, which extends from New Zealand north-northeast to Fiji, and is formed by the subduction of the Pacific Plate under the Indo-Australian Plate.

The volcano was first mapped in 2004, and assigned the name "Volcano F".[2] It consists of a large (8.7 x 6 km) caldera with a depth of 670 – 720 m. The caldera walls are 200 – 300 m high, with the highest peak on the rim only 35 m (115 ft) below sea level.[2] The entire volcano rises 1,000 m (3,300 ft) from the sea-floor.[2]

Eruption history

The volcano erupted in September 2001, resulting in an eruption column and a pumice raft which later reached the coast of Australia.[1][3]

The pumice raft generated by the August 2019 eruption. Captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission on 21 August 2019

In August 2019 a 150 km2 (58 sq mi) pumice raft was discovered floating in the Pacific Ocean in Tonga.[4][5] The pumice raft was observed by numerous yachts and reached Fiji in September.[6] Discoloured water and analysis of the drift path using satellite imagery showed that the raft had originated from an eruption of Volcano F beginning on 6 August 2019.[2][7][8] The eruption was preceded by a series of earthquakes on 5 August, and ceased on 8 August.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Unnamed". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Brandl, Philipp A.; Schmid, Florian; Augustin, Nico; Grevemeyer, Ingo; Arculus, Richard J.; Devey, Colin W.; Petersen, Sven; Stewart, Margaret; Kopp, Heidrun; Hannington, Mark D. (2020). "The 6–8 Aug 2019 eruption of 'Volcano F' in the Tofua Arc, Tonga" (PDF). Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 390. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  3. ^ Bryan, S.E.; Cook, A.; Evans, J.P.; Colls, P.W.; Wells, M.G.; Lawrence, M.G.; Jell, J.S.; Greig, A.; Leslie, R. (2004). "Pumice rafting and faunal dispersion during 2001–2002 in the Southwest Pacific: record of a dacitic submarine explosive eruption from Tonga" (PDF). Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 227 (1–2): 135–154. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Pumice raft at sea after underwater eruption near Tonga". RNZ. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Massive pumice 'raft' spotted in the Pacific could help replenish Great Barrier Reef". Guardian. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  6. ^ Jutzeler, Martin; Marsh, Robert; van Sebille, Erik; Mittal, Tushar; Carey, Rebecca J.; Fauria, Kristen E.; Manga, Michael; McPhie, Jocelyn (2020). "Ongoing Dispersal of the 7 August 2019 Pumice Raft From the Tonga Arc in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean" (PDF). Geophysical Research Letters. 47. doi:10.1029/2019GL086768. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Volcano F is the Origin of the Floating Stones, Researchers Discovered". Hydro International. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  8. ^ "What became of the great Pacific pumice raft?". Guardian. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2022.


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