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Tofua Arc at 20.9°S

Stratovolcano · Tonga · 296m (submarine)

A plume and discolored water from a submarine eruption were observed in January 1999. This unnamed submarine volcano, 35 km NW of the Niu Aunofo lighthouse on Tongatapu Island, was constructed at the southern end of a submarine ridge segment of the Tofua volcanic arc extending NNE to Falcon Island. The first documented eruptions took place in 1911 and 1923. An ephemeral island was formed during this eruption in 1999; prior to this the summit was 13 m beneath the sea surface.
A plume and discolored water from a submarine eruption were observed in January 1999. This unnamed submarine volcano, 35 km NW of the Niu Aunofo lighthouse on Tongatapu Island, was constructed at the southern end of a submarine ridge segment of the Tofua volcanic arc extending NNE to Falcon Island. The first documented eruptions took place in 1911 and 1923. An ephemeral island was formed during this eruption in 1999; prior to this the summit was 13 m beneath the sea surface. · Photo: Photo by B. Hutchins, 1999 (published in Taylor, 1999).
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Tonga
Region
Tonga-Kermadec Volcanic Regions / Tofua Volcanic Arc
Elevation
296m (submarine)
Coordinates
-20.852, -175.550
Last eruption
2017
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
No Data (checked)
Geological summary

An unnamed submarine volcano is located along the Tofua Volcanic Arc 35 km NW of the Niu Aunofo lighthouse on Tongatapu Island. The first documented eruptions took place in 1911 and 1923; an ephemeral island was formed in 1999. A submarine eruption in January 2017 produced discolored water visible in satellite imagery.

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
1911~1922 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 01922~1932 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 01964~1975 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 01996~2006 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 12006~2017 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 019111932196419852006

Detailed timeline

  1. 2017VEI 0Observed
    2017-01-23 – 2017-01-31
    Submarine
  2. 1999VEI 1Observed
    1999-01-08 – 1999-01-14
  3. 1970VEI 0Observed
    1970-01-03 – 1970-01-03
  4. 1923VEI 0Observed
    1923-07-01 – Ongoing
  5. 1911VEI 0Observed
    1911-08 – Ongoing

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.