The Tonga Volcano’s Plume Has Reached Half-Way Into Space

The height attained by the plume of last Saturday’s volcanic eruption in Tonga is an indication of its immense force. Scientists in the United Kingdom studying weather satellite data estimate it to be about 55 kilometres (35 miles) above the Earth’s surface.

This is where the stratosphere and mesosphere layers of the atmosphere meet. According to Dr. Simon Proud of RAL Space, these are “unheard-of altitudes” for a volcanic plume. Mount Pinatubo erupted with the greatest force in the second half of the twentieth century in 1991. Its plume is estimated to have reached a height of 40 kilometres.

However, Dr. Proud, who is linked with the UK National Centre for Earth Observation, cautioned that today’s more accurate satellites could have provided a greater altitude for the Philippines occurrence.

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