---

 [ CLIMATE ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=14)

#  Tonga's Volcanic Tsunami Foreshadows Effects of Glacier Melt From CO2

CLIMATE WATCH - A massive eruption in an undersea volcano, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, 40 miles north of the South Pacific island of Tongatapu on Saturday caused a low-level tsunami and flooding on the island, the most populous in the Tonga archipelago.

Written by JUAN COLE.

<a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_print"></a>[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)

 [Comments](#disqus_thread)

CLIMATE WATCH - A massive eruption in an undersea volcano, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, 40 miles north of the South Pacific island of Tongatapu on Saturday caused a low-level tsunami and flooding on the island, the most populous in the Tonga archipelago.

The tsunami spread out from there, causing one- to three-foot waves in Hawaii and some one-foot waves on the West Coast of the US and down to Chile. The waves created rip tides that endangered marinas and swimmers. Further eruptions cannot be ruled out.

At the moment, most volcanic eruptions are not related to the climate emergency, but events like this give us a taste of what will begin happening regularly if large Antarctic glaciers begin plopping into the ocean because of the coal and gasoline we burn daily. In fact, some of those glaciers could raise sea levels as much as six feet all by themselves, so their effects would be much worse. Some scientists believe that the Thwaite "doomsday glacier" could break up within only ten years.

Moreover, as the world's surface ice melts and the oceans rise, that will put more pressure on the earth's crust, so we will see increased vulcanism, and more tsunamis. So get used to it.

The earth is capable of intense fury that can sweep everything along in its path, and our burning of fossil fuels and putting billions of tons of heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere are infuriating the earth

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern posted this photo of this behemoth of an eruption on her [**Facebook**](https://www.facebook.com/jacindaardern/posts/10158337422777441) page:

![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Jan-2022/005u.png)

The volcano [**threw up an ash cloud**](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300496734/live-government-looking-at-how-new-zealand-can-help-in-tonga-after-eruption-and-tsunami) to 63,000 feet, higher than New Zealand aircraft could fly, and so prevented aerial reconnaissance.

Three-foot waves slammed into the coast at the Kingdom of Tonga's capital city, Nukuʻalofa, [**depositing boulders and ships**](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300496734/live-government-looking-at-how-new-zealand-can-help-in-tonga-after-eruption-and-tsunami)and damaging shops. The king had to be evacuated from his palace on Tongatapu, the island on which 70 percent of Tongans live.

Tongans in New Zealand who were able to get in cell phone contact with family members in the islands [**reported that much of Nuku'alofa ](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300496734/live-government-looking-at-how-new-zealand-can-help-in-tonga-after-eruption-and-tsunami)was under water.

A layer of ash nearly an inch thick was deposited some places, endangering fresh water sources and air quality An undersea cable stopped working, possibly because of a loss of electricity, and the situation on the Tonga islands is a little unclear. Some photos of flood damage have been sent to the outside world, though:

![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Jan-2022/005t.png)

*Tonga in S. Pacific (h/t Wikimedia).*

The Kingdom of Tonga has a population of about 104,000, spread over 36 inhabited islands in the archipelago, of which 70 percent live on the main island of Tongatapu. It is the site of the capital, Nuku'alofa, which reportedly has suffered heavy flooding as well as ash deposits. Sea level rise because of human CO2 emissions and consequent global heating threatens to submerge many South Pacific islands.

*(**Juan Cole** teaches Middle Eastern and South Asian history at the University of Michigan. His newest book, "[Muhammad: Prophet of Peace Amid the Clash of Empires](https://bookshop.org/a/16708/9781568587813)" was published in 2020. He is also the author of "[The New Arabs: How the Millennial Generation Is Changing the Middle East](https://bookshop.org/a/16708/9781451690408)["](https://bookshop.org/a/16708/9781451690408) (2015) and "[Napoleon's Egypt: Invading the Middle East](https://bookshop.org/a/16708/9780230606036)" (2008). He has appeared widely on television, radio, and on op-ed pages as a commentator on Middle East affairs, and has a regular column at Salon.com. He has written, edited, or translated 14 books and has authored 60 journal articles.)*

[![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental%202026%20final.jpg)](http://medentalspa.com/)

 ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png)

## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays &amp; Thursdays

 Email

 [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)")

 [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2")

 ---

##  Featured CityWatch Stories

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/bb/062a-bb8ffb47.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33163:4-4-billion-later-inside-the-broken-machinery-of-los-angeles-homelessness-system&catid=312)

### [ $4.4 Billion Later: Inside the Broken Machinery of Los Angeles’ Homelessness System](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33163:4-4-billion-later-inside-the-broken-machinery-of-los-angeles-homelessness-system&catid=312)

THE BOTTOM LINE - When Karen Bass became mayor of Los Angeles in December 2022, she declared a state of emergency on ho…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/fd/064h-fdb0b507.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12)

### [Remembering Ken Draper: CityWatch and Transparency Are his Legacy](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12)

LA WATCHDOG - Ken Draper, the editor and publisher of CityWatch for more than 20 years, passed away on August 8, 2022…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0f/061a-0f1ada2f.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398)

### [Brace Yourself For A Worse Housing Crisis](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398)

PLANNING WATCH - The California State Legislature will soon vote on the following draft legislation. Please carefully…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/04/063g-04ad33d5.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33173:netanyahus-challengers-are-selling-the-same-poison&catid=332)

### [Netanyahu’s Challengers Are Selling The Same Poison](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33173:netanyahus-challengers-are-selling-the-same-poison&catid=332)

SPEAKING OUT - One would think that after October 7 and the Gaza war that followed, the leaders from the main oppositio…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/19/062f-19a66144.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33162:prolonged-ignorance-of-a-ticking-bomb-does-not-neutralize-it&catid=9)

### [Prolonged Ignorance Of A Ticking Bomb Does Not Neutralize It](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33162:prolonged-ignorance-of-a-ticking-bomb-does-not-neutralize-it&catid=9)

OP/ED - The recent landslide of chemical leaks, fires and extremely dangerous events have proven, without any doubt, th…

---

##  [ CLIMATE ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=14)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/056i.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33044:purveyors-of-pollution-and-escalation-of-global-warming&catid=14)### [Purveyors of Pollution and Escalation of Global Warming](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33044:purveyors-of-pollution-and-escalation-of-global-warming&catid=14)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/052d.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32969:plastic-free-july-angelenos-invited-to-help-protect-beaches-rivers-and-the-pacific&catid=14)### [Plastic Free July: Angelenos Invited to Help Protect Beaches, Rivers and the Pacific](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32969:plastic-free-july-angelenos-invited-to-help-protect-beaches-rivers-and-the-pacific&catid=14)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/May-2026/042c.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32783:residential-hvac-decisions-in-lake-forest-climate-efficiency-and-long-term-home-performance&catid=14)### [Residential HVAC Decisions in Lake Forest: Climate, Efficiency, and Long-Term Home Performance](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32783:residential-hvac-decisions-in-lake-forest-climate-efficiency-and-long-term-home-performance&catid=14)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Feb-2026/016n.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32321:what-positive-impact-could-ai-have-on-the-climate-in-la&catid=14)### [What Positive Impact Could AI Have on the Climate in LA?](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32321:what-positive-impact-could-ai-have-on-the-climate-in-la&catid=14)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Jan-2026/003v.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32086:las-coming-cooling-mandate-what-the-82-degree-rule-means-for-rental-properties&catid=14)### [LA's Coming Cooling Mandate: What the 82-Degree Rule Means for Rental Properties](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32086:las-coming-cooling-mandate-what-the-82-degree-rule-means-for-rental-properties&catid=14)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>