A team of scientists from the University of Tasmania, in collaboration with the Tonga Geological Services and other Australian and international partners, has embarked on a 54-day scientific voyage to Tonga aboard the CSIRO research vessel (RV) Investigator.
The expedition will investigate the impacts of the 2022 eruption of Tonga's underwater Hunga Volcano, which featured the largest volcanic eruption recorded in over a century, and which devastated the marine ecosystems within 100 kilometres of the site.
The voyage brings together 40 researchers and technical staff from Australia, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, who will carry out more than 120 scientific operations in and around the underwater volcano.
The voyage Chief Scientist, Associate Professor Rebecca Carey from the University of Tasmania's Centre for Ore Deposit and Earth Sciences (CODES) said the "ground zero" underwater scene produced by the blast offered a unique opportunity to study the recovery of deep-sea ecosystems.
"Our team will map the seafloor and sub-seafloor, extract sediment cores, conduct marine life surveys and explore environmental DNA in seawater so we can better understand volcanic processes and ecosystem recovery," Associate Professor Carey said.
The eruption sent an ash column 58 kilometres into the atmosphere and triggered a cascade of hazards, including a Pacific-wide tsunami, disruption to fisheries, reshaping of the seafloor, and damage to the undersea cables connecting Tongans domestically and with the world, disturbing daily life for thousands of Tongans for months.
"This volcano is just one of hundreds of shallow submarine volcanoes scattered across the Southwest Pacific, whose eruption risks remain poorly understood," Associate Professor Carey said.
"We are aiming to generate data products that support hazard assessments, inform risk models and guide recovery planning, by informing where vital new under-sea communications infrastructure should be installed to provide a back-up option in the event of future cable breaks.
"This research will help build resilience and preparedness in the region for future volcanic events, and we look forward to working closely with Tongan agencies, the Australian government and our regional partners, and sharing our findings."
This research is supported by a grant of sea time on RV Investigator from Australia's Marine National Facility, which is operated by CSIRO, Australia's national science agency.
Director of the CSIRO Marine National Facility, Ms Toni Moate, said the voyage to Tonga makes use of the diverse range of scientific capabilities offered by research vessel Investigator.
"RV Investigator is one of Australia's most productive pieces of research infrastructure and this voyage highlights the impressive range of science we can deliver on every voyage," Ms Moate said.
"The vessel creates an international hub for collaboration in ocean research and the science delivered on this voyage will benefit both Australia and our regional neighbours in the Pacific."
Originally published by University of Tasmania.
