How Did Westward Volcaniclastic Deposits Accumulate in the Deep Sea Following the January 2022 Eruption of Hunga Volcano?

Abstract Most volcanic eruptions on Earth take place below the ocean surface and remain largely unobserved. Reconstruction of past submerged eruptions has thus primarily been based on the study of seafloor deposits. Rarely before the 15 January 2022 eruption of Hunga volcano (Kingdom of Tonga) have we been able to categorically link deep‐sea deposits to a specific volcanic source. This eruption was the largest in the modern satellite era, producing a 58‐km‐tall plume, a 20‐m high tsunami, and a pressure wave that propagated around the world. The eruption induced the fastest submarine density currents ever measured, which destroyed submarine telecommunication cables and traveled at least 85 km to the west to the neighboring Lau Basin. Here we report findings from a series of remotely operated vehicle dives conducted 4 months after the eruption along the Eastern Lau Spreading Center‐Valu Fa Ridge. Hunga‐sourced volcaniclastic deposits 7–150 cm in thickness were found at nine sites, and collected. Study of the internal structure, grain size, componentry, glass chemistry, and microfossil assemblages of the cores show that these deposits are the distal portions of at least two ∼100‐km‐runout submarine density currents. We identify distinct physical characteristics of entrained microfossils that demonstrate the dynamics and pathways of the density currents. Microfossil evidence suggests that even the distal parts of the currents were erosive, remobilizing microfossil‐concentrated sediments across the Lau Basin. Remobilization by volcaniclastic submarine density currents may thus play a greater role in carbon transport into deep sea basins than previously thought.

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Publication Details

Journal
Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems
Published
2025-04-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2024gc011629
Citations
5
Primary Topic
Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
6.50

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article

How Did Westward Volcaniclastic Deposits Accumulate in the Deep Sea Following the January 2022 Eruption of Hunga Volcano?

Joali Paredes‐Mariño, Kristen E. Fauria, Shawn M. Arellano, Rebecca Carey et al.
5 citations
Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems
Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
6.50
article

How Did Westward Volcaniclastic Deposits Accumulate in the Deep Sea Following the January 2022 Eruption of Hunga Volcano?

Joali Paredes‐Mariño, Kristen E. Fauria, Shawn M. Arellano, Rebecca Carey, Martin P. Crundwell, S. A. Soule, Isobel Yeo, Shane J. Cronin, Liam J. Kelly, Alexa R. Van Eaton, Sally Watson, Martin Jutzeler, Thomas Giachetti, Taaniela Kula, Michael Clare, Craig M. Young, Roxanne A. Beinart, Marcus Chaknova
article en
5 citations

Abstract

Abstract Most volcanic eruptions on Earth take place below the ocean surface and remain largely unobserved. Reconstruction of past submerged eruptions has thus primarily been based on the study of seafloor deposits. Rarely before the 15 January 2022 eruption of Hunga volcano (Kingdom of Tonga) have we been able to categorically link deep‐sea deposits to a specific volcanic source. This eruption was the largest in the modern satellite era, producing a 58‐km‐tall plume, a 20‐m high tsunami, and a pressure wave that propagated around the world. The eruption induced the fastest submarine density currents ever measured, which destroyed submarine telecommunication cables and traveled at least 85 km to the west to the neighboring Lau Basin. Here we report findings from a series of remotely operated vehicle dives conducted 4 months after the eruption along the Eastern Lau Spreading Center‐Valu Fa Ridge. Hunga‐sourced volcaniclastic deposits 7–150 cm in thickness were found at nine sites, and collected. Study of the internal structure, grain size, componentry, glass chemistry, and microfossil assemblages of the cores show that these deposits are the distal portions of at least two ∼100‐km‐runout submarine density currents. We identify distinct physical characteristics of entrained microfossils that demonstrate the dynamics and pathways of the density currents. Microfossil evidence suggests that even the distal parts of the currents were erosive, remobilizing microfossil‐concentrated sediments across the Lau Basin. Remobilization by volcaniclastic submarine density currents may thus play a greater role in carbon transport into deep sea basins than previously thought.

Geochemistry Geophysics GeosystemsVol. 26(4)
GNS Science (NZ), United States Geological Survey (US), University of Tasmania (AU), University of Auckland (NZ), University of Rhode Island (US), University of Oregon (US), National Oceanography Centre (GB), Vanderbilt University (US), Cascades Volcano Observatory (US), National Energy Technology Laboratory (US), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Food (TO), National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NZ), Western Washington University (US)
National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Oregon State University, Sight Research UK, Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, Natural Environment Research Council
Openalex Percentile: Top 3%
Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
6.50
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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