When a volcano in the South Pacific Kingdom of Tonga began erupting in late-December 2021 and then violently exploded in mid-January 2022, NASA scientist Jim Garvin and colleagues were unusually well positioned to study the events. Ever since new land rose above the water surface in 2015 and joined two existing islands, Garvin and an international team of researchers have been monitoring changes there. The team used a combination of satellite observations and surface-based geophysical surveys to track the evolution of the rapidly changing piece of Earth. Now all of the new land is gone, along with large chunks of the two older islands. Story, pictures and links - NASA Earth Observatory.
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Wednesday 9 June 2021
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Annapolis-MD, USA
Maps of all the coral reefs in the world will be created quickly with new technology by NASA through a partnership with the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (KSLOF), announced on World Ocean’s Day, 8 June. The maps will give researchers and environmental managers better information about what’s happening to coral reefs.
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Tuesday 15 October 2019
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
On a 12-week expedition to the Pacific Islands, this month NASA has partnered with the Tongan Ministry of the Environment and the Sea Education Association, to do field work on the recently formed volcanic island Hunga Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai.
Thursday 13 September 2018
London, United Kingdom
A remarkable satellite image shows Hurricane Florence in the Atalnatic is one of just nine potentially dangerous storms currently circling around the world.
Wednesday 28 February 2018
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Florida, USA
NASA will launch a powerful and advanced weather satellite named GOES-S on Thursday 1 March from Cape Canaveral, Florida, US, enabling more accurate and reliable weather forecasts and severe weather outlooks over most of the Western Hemisphere, including the Pacific.
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Wednesday 13 December 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A video study showing a time lapse of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai island was published on Tuesday by America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The video study by NASA shows the transformation of the volcanic island from 2015 to 2017.
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Friday 3 February 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new photo has emerged from NASA Earth clearly showing the site of the underwater volcano eruption known as 'Submarine Volcano III' near Tongatapu. NASA Earth states the plume is emerging from a seamount located 33 km (20 miles) from Tongatapu.
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Wednesday 2 March 2016
1 comment
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Fakaofo ‘a e me’a ‘oku hokoo he ‘oku ‘kehe ‘a e ngutuu mei he tuhuu’ ‘i he fakahoko fatongia ‘a e UN ki he ngaahi fonua memipaa, tautautefito ki he totonu ‘a e tangataa. Tonga, tau ako lelei mei he me’a ni.
Thursday 16 January 2014
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Greenbelt, Md.-USA
NASA's TRMM satellite passed over Tropical Cyclone Ian three days in a row and captured rainfall and thunderstorm cloud height data about the deadly storm as it strengthened and weakened. Powerful thunderstorms in Ian's eye wall were found reaching heights of about 15 km/9.3 miles. TRMM's data was used to create a 3-D flyby animation of Ian's well defined eye on January 11, 2014 at 0833 UTC [9:30pm Tonga local time].
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