A high-resolution satellite image of the eruption taken by the MAXAR (image: @mfordNZ/twitter)
A breathtaking view occurred eyewitness at the boat floating while the major eruption at the volcano on 20 December. During the explosion a base surge was generated, a common feature of many phreatomagmatic (hydromagmatic) eruptions. Pyroclastic cloud consisting of ash and steam is formed in a ring around the base of the eruption column.
A high-resolution satellite image of the eruption was captured by the MAXAR satellite as attached below.
Observers at the boat while the eruption (source: @alakihihifo/twitter)
Stole this footage from my cuzn of Hunga Tonga & Hunga Ha’apai where an undersea volcano erupted on Sunday night. pic.twitter.com/4ED8mpxmwk
— Alakihihifo Vailala (@alakihihifo) December 22, 2021