Unprecedented Electrical Activity Recorded During Tonga Volcanic Eruption

The 2022 Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption in Tonga triggered an unprecedented level of electrical activity, with nearly 200,000 lightning flashes within the volcanic plume, reaching a peak rate of over 2,600 flashes per minute. The eruption expelled a massive amount of molten rock and evaporated water, creating a towering plume that reached halfway to space. Scientists believe that plume particles surfing a volcanic "gravity wave" contributed to the record-breaking lightning. The eruption, classified as a phreatoplinian eruption, was a milestone as it had never been observed with modern equipment before. The insights gained from studying the lightning activity can improve monitoring and prediction of aviation hazards during major volcanic eruptions.