NASA says Tonga volcanic eruption made world's tallest ash plume ever seen by satellites

NASA stated that Tonga volca eruption in Pacific in January that blasted into atmosphere was tallest ash plume ever observed by satellites. As per reports of Insider, two wear satellites passed overhe as Pacific volca ejected ashes into sky with a force equivalent to 10 megatons of TNT. GOES-17 and Himawari-8 craft, operated by National Oceanic and Atmospheric ministration and Japanese Aero Exploration ncy, took infrared ims of eruption every 10 minutes for roughly 13 hours.

Scientists at NASA's Langley Research Center calculated that ash plume from this volcanic eruption soared 56 kilometres into air at its greatest point, reaching mesosphere. In comparison, ash plume from Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991 rose only 35 kilometres into air.  Mount Pinatubo's eruption in 1991 was largest kwn volcanic plume ever captured by satellites. That plume soared 35 kilometres over Philippines, into stratosphere, yet just missed mesosphere.

ashes reached mesosphere

NASA scientists stated that initial eruption of Tonga volca threw ashes over 58 kilometres urd, reaching mesosphere, which is region where meteorites fall to Earth burn up and produce shooting stars blazing across night sky. volcanic plume travelled that distance in about 30 minutes.

Tonga's volca was submerged for a long time. When it erupted beneath sea and unexpectedly rose, forming a landmass that united two pre-existing islands, Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha'apai, it drew attention of scientists in 2015. A sequence of severe eruptions in January wiped off infant island and tore major portions of Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha'apai away. Although region was deserted, eruption devastated homes, boats, and fisheries in surrounding populated islands. World Bank stated that  disaster cost $90.4 million, or 20% of Tonga's GDP, according to Insider.

latest generation of geostationary satellites captured it effectively

Kristopher Bedka who is an atmospheric scientist at NASA Langley stated that  storm cloud formed by eruption is significantly more intense than any storm cloud he has ever observed, according to Insider. He also stated that y are lucky that latest generation of geostationary satellites captured it so effectively, and that y can use this data to track its progress in vel ways.

Im: @NASAAtmosphere/Twitter