New island emerged from the Pacific Ocean after the eruption of an underwater volcano

A little over two weeks ago, on September 10, an underwater volcano known as Home Reef awoke from a 16-year “sleep” and began spewing lava and rock into the waters of the Pacific Ocean near the central islands. Kingdom of Tonga in Oceania. slowly The accumulated rubble created a new island measuring 4,000 square meters and 10 meters high.

According to the statement posted on Facebook by the Tonga Geological Survey (TGS), just ten days later, on the 20th, the new island was already 24,000 square meters, six times expansion.

However, it is very likely that it will be eroded and sunk by the corrosive effect of the sea and wind. The last island to emerge from Home Reef in 2006, it took a year for waves to erode its crest.

Why does Home Reef produce so many “islands”?

since 1852, Home Reef has already “produced” five candidates In other eruption episodes, some were between 50 and 70 meters high, and there was even a lagoon on an island from 1984. According to geologists, the sunken mound responsible for the emergence of these short-lived islands is located in a known subduction zone (plate subduction).

The area, called the Kermadec Trench, consists of some of the world’s “fastest” tectonic structures. This is because the Pacific plate is slipping under the Kermadec and Tonga plates. at an impressive 24 centimeters per year. These features combine to form the world’s second deepest trench and a very active volcanic arc.

Despite island formation, TGS explains that current eruption risks for aviation and residents of neighboring archipelagos Vava’u and Ha’apai are low. However, sailors are advised not to stay within 4 kilometers of the Home Reef.