A Seismic Precursor 15 min Before the Giant Eruption of Hunga Tonga‐Hunga Ha'apai Volcano on 15 January 2022

Abstract

Abstract The 15 January 2022, eruption at Hunga Tonga‐Hunga Ha'apai (HTHH) volcano started shortly after 4:00UTC. There had been noted unconfirmed precursory events. We analyzed seismometer data recorded in Fiji and Futuna, the closest stations operated during the eruption and located over 750 km away. We extracted Rayleigh waves and estimated their powers and source directions, assuming retrograde particle motions. We found a Rayleigh wave from the HTHH's direction about 15 min before the eruption onset. The arrival time difference of the Rayleigh wave between the two stations was consistent with that of the M5.8 earthquake during the eruption located beneath the HTHH. Referring to other seismic signals and satellite images, we concluded that the Rayleigh wave was the most significant eruption precursor with no apparent surface activity. Including our findings and results of previous studies, we propose a scenario of the beginning of the caldera‐forming eruption.

Keywords

• Hunga Tonga‐Hunga Ha'apai
• caldera‐forming eruption
• eruption precursor
• Rayleigh wave
• submarine eruption
• volcano monitoring