Tonga Volcano's Eruption Reshapes Seafloor and Telecom Cables
Last year's volcanic eruption in Tonga triggered the fastest underwater flows ever recorded, with rock, ash, and mud moving across the ocean floor at speeds of up to 122km/h. These "density currents" caused damage to telecommunications cables, cutting Tonga's link to the global internet and killing sealife. Scientists used seafloor mapping and timing of cable breaks to measure the speed of the flows. The incident highlights the need for better seafloor mapping and investment in repair cable and communication satellites for resilience in the global submarine cable network.