Extended Footage- Tongas Jan15th Volcanic Eruption Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai as seen from the ground

[@TN1965]

This was a really great, and insightful video into the eruption. I did see some things that I thought were fascinating, that were mostly related to weather phenomenon: 1. It is amazing to see a natural example of the process that typically forms the "Wilson Cloud," which is a type of cloud that commonly forms around large/nuclear explosions, that is typically short-lived in nature, but is caused by similar processes as seen here. It is interesting seeing the fluctuations of the clouds as they drift past, and the lowering/growth, followed by shrinking and raising of he cloud. This can be explained by the the rapid pressure spikes and drops as you showed in your video, with the clouds growing and lowering in response to the sudden drop in air pressure and slight cooling in the atmosphere, which then causes rapid condensation, before another wave passes with higher air pressure/temperature that causes the cloud to again shrink, from increased evaporation. Very interesting stuff. 2. As you can see by the satellite image at 1:19, and the view of the leading edge of the eruption column at 12:43, you many note how the cloud has a very whitish hue for being an ash cloud. This is due to the immense amounts of steam and moisture from the seawater rapidly condensing in the atmosphere, with more ash mixed in the plume further inside. But, because of the immense amount of lighting strikes recorded from the eruption and the more cloud-like appearance of the plume, it is safe to say that this was a clear case of Cumulonimbus flammagenitus, or Pyrocumulonimbus for short. It is mostly observed with massive wildfires, however on occasion, if enough moisture is present from the eruption, whether it be in the atmosphere, ice, or in this case seawater, it will flash to steam and then condense rapidly higher up. At 12:43 I will also note that the edge of the eruption column looks very similar to the edge of a typical anvil of a thunderstorm, however, this eruption cloud reached far higher than even the tallest "normal" thunderstorms grow to. 4. At 16:34, you mention how the local clouds have began to dissipate as ash is about to fall, and that the wind is increasing. I am guessing that the clouds disappearing is due to the downdrafts of ash causing subsidence in the local atmosphere, making it harder for vertical development. the wind increase that also blew ash towards the window is most likely due to a similar result. 5. In your last video, and this one, you have shown how the local clouds changed direction in a sense and began to move towards the direction of the eruption, before later switching back to normal closer to time of ashfall. This phenomenon is most likely the result of air being rapidly pulled towards the volcano due to the speed at which the eruption occurred, basically the air is rushing in to fill up all the space created. It is hard to explain, but basically the explosion was so powerful, that the rapid uplift of the plume and heat, basically creates a large suction, which then causes the air to be pulled in that direction, so at your location, it was further away so it was expressed as a change in cloud direction and slight increase of wind. A similar phenomenon was observed during the Mount Saint Helens eruption in 1980, such as that from the survivor Dave Crockett, who mentioned in an interview how "the wind was being sucked up towards the blast." In all, there were plenty of interesting aspects about this eruption, and this is probably some of the best footage we have out there in terms of how close and how direct you were affected by this eruption, which makes this video a very interesting piece. Thank you for documenting this, and I hope you and everyone in Tonga and surrounding areas is doing alright.

[@MolisiDelmar]

Wow thank you for sharing these insightful observations with us. We are doing okay thank you 😊

[@TN1965]

@@MolisiDelmar No problem, very happy to hear that you all are doing well.

[@James-xu3vc]

Ya, what he said. Blessings from Canada 🇨🇦 eh?

[@melinoegreenwood4192]

🌋I was sick of seeing only the eruption,space view or a model of the eruption. I am very grateful to see the less eye pleasing parts. Thank you very much 🙏

[@celticlass8573]

WOW the clouds changing as we watch over just a few seconds, is FASCINATING!

[@marshallsweatherhiking1820]

It's weird how the majority of the pressure waves are at an extremely low frequency, and thus not audible. The wavelength must be massive. The audible noises are of a much smaller amplitude, but also a much higher frequency / shorter wavelength. I'm not sure the waves are being created by the same process. I'm thinking the loud audible shocks might be due to the disturbance of the sea surface, like a magnified "plop" of a rock falling into the water, but in reverse (the material is coming out of the water rather than falling into it). These audible shocks are a much higher frequency than the much larger pressure waves being generated at the same time. The long atmospheric pressure waves seem to be created not by either the water surface disturbance or exploding rock, but by the sudden displacement of air around the rapidly swelling plume of steam and ash. The steam/ash plume may be initially expanding at a rate such that the movement of individual parcels is near supersonic. Yet, this steam explosion is so massive in scale that the wavelengths of the generated pressure waves are much too long to be detected as sound by the human ear. They instead cause ear discomfort from pressure swells with frequencies of tens of seconds up to a minute or two.

[@falklevien]

Thanks for the extended video. This probably represents the most comprehensive first hand report available of the eruption. I’m living 17000km away from you in central Europe, but even my barograph showed two passages of the main pressure wave. One that traveled 17000km directly from the eruption centre and six hours later even one that traveled the other way around for 23000km. Of course, here the pressure change was far smaller, just a bit more than 1hPa, but it’s still so impressive to witness the immediate effects of this huge eruption essentially on the opposite side of the world.

[@pkd19]

I did see it also on my barograph in the Netherlands,first in 10minutes it did go up from 1024,6 to 1025,8,then a very quick drop in 15minutes to 1022,9Hpa,and some 4 hours later,the second wave passed with much smaller ups and downs.

[@MrBlack-24]

Hey there, it's been a few years since this eruption happened. I hope you're doing okay. I can't even imagine how scary that day must have been for you and everyone else. Some other footage shows different aspects of the eruption, but your footage is like the holy grail. Looking back now, do you realize that your footage will be one of the most studied examples of pressure waves, and so on, ever? It's classic and valuable footage, regardless. I want to personally thank you for sharing it.

[@fatimapatel2891]

Thank you for having the foresight to make the recordings, and for taking the time to put this data together. School teaching here in Barbados - will be sharing with students.

[@glennarmstrong5234]

Well done documenting this. It’s the small details that matter and paint the picture. I was sitting on the airport apron at Wellington listening to ATC, an airplane on the approach and watching our altimeter move up and down as the pressure waves went through. It had everyone wondering what was going on. There was the nagging thought of the potential tsunami too, and how soon and how bad it might be.

[@joyleenpoortier7496]

This was just awesome. Watching the effects of the shock waves on the clouds was amazing. Thank you.

[@Foobie07]

Now I know what it must have been like hearing those loud booms during the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa.

[@Foobie07]

I didn't say exactly like Krakatoa.

[@alinaqirizvi1441]

​@ItzAntiL yes but this was very close to the eruption so it's similar to what most people who heard the booms heard

[@J.G.H.]

@@Foobie07 You're actually right, they upgraded this eruption to a VEI-6, it's thought it ejected somewhere in the neighborhood of 16 cubic km of ash rock and debris, which makes it around a third the size of Krakatoa. Fun fatoid though, the paroxysmal phase of the Krakatoa eruption was an event that lasted 14 to 16 hours. This was roughly a single explosion all at once, so it's actually a very good approximation of one of the four climactic explosions that happened as Krakatoa tore itself apart on the morning of August 27th.

[@ruipires7954]

THIS WAS NOTHING LIKE 1883!!! 1883 WAS MUCH,MUCH WORSE !!!

[@markmccoskrie2871]

Thanks for this amazing first hand account. I heard those explosions from my place 2000 km away in Waipara NZ at the time I had no idea what was happening. It sounded like blasting from a quarry to our north east. The Barometric measurements were extremely interesting as were the photos of the cloud movements.

[@sunspot42]

Terrifying but rare event. This was the largest volcanic explosion in I think at least a decade, and geologists now think it might be the largest steam explosion of this kind possible - a deeper volcano’s explosion would be tamped down by all the water above it, while a more shallow eruption wouldn’t have as much water available to it to flash to steam.

[@MolisiDelmar]

Amazing. It seemed to really punch pretty high this one.

[@ashleywintle8570]

Since Krakatoa now

[@PhilJonesIII]

According to Nature (Jan 2023 release), it managed to put water into the Stratosphere and increased Earth's overall atmospheric water loading by 10%.

[@jpmcbride229]

This is absolutely fascinating - thank you for your amazing documentation! I’ve just come across this, almost two years later, and am sorry I wasn’t dialed in when it occurred.

[@syzygy808]

Learned much thanks to you putting this together. Near and after the end I couldn’t stop trying to clear my ears. 😅

[@brianrigsby7900]

13:33 is that in psi or what? And can you give me the full name along with any other acronym and the meaning?

[@knicker4]

Please send the video to universities for study, this video may be more significant than any video of volcanism yet, there is so much data to go through especially with the added barometer association to the listed timeline. We haven't had an eruption on earth like this so heavily recorded, and your proximity to the eruption makes things even more fascinating

[@pinlight97]

You are similar to me during adverse events such as this. Focusing on and keeping calm through data details, documenting, and photographing/filming. I do the exact same with weather phenomenon where I am in Canada (the bad ice storm we had a few years ago was fascinating, with power flashes as the ice accretion on tree branches snapped them and hit the lines, and only light tinkling sounds being heard due to the density of the air’s moisture).

[@georginagateley5267]

Just found this , Incredible Footage and you are so lucky to be able to capture this historic event but also awely terrifying and fascinating

[@fontcaicoya5686]

This was an excellent documentation. Thank you. I hope everyone is doing well over there.

[@blessedheavyelements8544]

Thank You! Excellent historical record. You did science and humanity a service that day. Hope you are well. Best Regards and Best Wishes for 2023!

[@PiranahKill]

Fascinating footage. Your incredibly lucky to be able to witness something like this, and also unfortunate to have to go through the fallout.

[@gitanoespana7694]

Thankyou for sharing. Happy you and our friends got through that. Arohanui.

[@melissas.7195]

Thank you so much for this!! It is incredibly helpful for reference points!

[@boetschge]

Youre doing valuable work, much respect! Reseachers will benefit and be thankfull for it. Best whishes from Germany to you!

[@MolisiDelmar]

Thank you.

[@James-xu3vc]

Very cool. Thx for documenting this very rare event.

[@OutOfWards]

Incredible footage! Congrats! I'm you're 828th Subscriber!

[@BoDiddly]

This was incredible! I am glad you had the presence of mind to record/document it while it was happening! Who knows, you can be the next Plenian!

[@redlancelot2634]

I've experienced a volcanic eruption before and it's freaking horrifying. I remember how fast the sky changes its color from clear to yellowish brown to very dark as night then ash starts to fell and it got a weird smell i don't know how to describe. Its was the taal eruption of 2020 and its pretty strong. I also heard rumbling and the sky flashing almost non stop at one point from the volcanic lightning.

[@punkn]

I don't remember hearing much on the news in the way of injuries or fatalities... so under the assumption that there really were none serious enough to report, and after watching your recording, it's as fascinating to watch as it is a blessing that you and all the other residents were able to walk away from that day and share your experiences with the rest of the world. Kudos my dude!

[@Giantdwarf00]

6 died, 19 injured and persons missing.

[@Jablicek]

There were enormous tsunami on nearby islands.

[@syncrosimon]

All that water vapour in the atmosphere will no doubt be having some effect. Great video.

[@susanmenzel9679]

Thank you SO much for recording this amazing event! I am most surprised you had the composure to do this while experiencing the effects to your body. MUCH respect! You had your equipment ready to go and put out this awesome documentary from your perspective! I just learned that 3 earthquakes have occurred (8/26/2024) north of Hunga Tonga along the same oceanic ridge. I hope you are still living nearby to record any future eruptions, but firstly, I am sending you blessings to please stay safe!!!🙏❤🌏🌋

[@kellwood1404]

Thanks for the extended version. Glad your internet/sea cable is working, hopefully electricity and water supplies okay. Be well and safe.

[@MolisiDelmar]

Your welcome. Thank you. Yes times like this just reinforce the need to have things like water onhan. Ill be safe.☺️

[@glennifer1225]

Great footage @Molisi Delmar. I'm wondering when you think the eruption started on 15 January? The data I've seen suggests around 5:02 pm, but increasing around 5:08 pm and then the main explosions and earthquakes between about 5:15 and 5:20 pm. Since you are 73 km away, the pressure changes and sound waves should reach you about 4 minutes later. Maybe a bit faster for shockwaves. So I would have expected the biggest blasts you heard to be around 5:18-5:19 locally. But it seems from your other footage, it may have been closer to 5:21-5:22, which is somewhat baffling.

[@Noah1997callahan]

Totally forgot about this.. was so invested into it when it happened. Hoping recovery and cleanup is going well

[@jkzero]

Thanks @molisidelmar for responding to the requests in the previous video, for taking the time to put this extended footage together, for adding the time stamps, and the extra comments. As I expressed in your previous video, this footage contains crucial scientific information that I, and probably many others, appreciate to have available. I will not use the footage directly but I would extract information from it: time and pressure values, to be precise. Do I have you permission to use these values in my scientific publication? If so, I will be delighted to explicitly indicate that these values were obtained thanks to this and the previous video, include a link to the videos, and include your name (Molisi Delmar) in the acknowledgements of the scientific publication and any presentation derived from it. Thanks again and take care.

[@MolisiDelmar]

Hello Jorge. Thank you for your interest. Yes please feel free to do as you say. Im very happy if some scientific information can be gleaned from this footage.

[@glennifer1225]

I agree 100% with Jorge. Very useful video. The nearest barometric and seismic data publicly available are at around 750 km away, which makes it difficult to understand what happened and when it happened. This video really helps.

[@jkzero]

Hi Molisi, thanks for sharing your data. You can find my study published in the scientific journal Shock Waves here link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00193-022-01092-4; please check the explicit mentions to your video and a mention in the acknowledgements section. There was also a nice pop-sci article about my study here: phys.org/news/2022-08-tonga-volcano-eruption-energy-powerful.html Thanks again and I hope that the recovery is going well.

[@utha2665]

@@MolisiDelmar It was fascinating how quickly the barometric pressure was fluctuating, it must have played havoc on your ears.

[@RWBHere]

Thanks. That was a day to remember.

[@Elsalover]

Thank God you don't have any ads running at the moment whole watching this video 😅

[@CarlosAM1]

very insightful video, thank you for uploading this!

[@kurtbilinski1723]

A very calm report, given that he doesn't know if it's over, stays the same, or gets much, much worse.

[@FuZhixiang]

The explosion around 8 minutes is unbelievable for the distance.

[@SCPFoundationexplained2021D-2]

This is crazy…best footage I ever seen.

[@MsBenzerman]

Great video. Thanks for that mate.

[@0474tk]

Absolutely amazing firsthand account. Truly a great piece for science and human history

[@erichsh58]

So at times like 6:24 in the video when you can feel pressure waves and see effect on clouds, are these waves subsonic? Like in single Hz range? Because they're not always followed up by audible explosions.

[@butter7734]

You caught a UFO starting at 3:22 an object appears out of nowhere floats there for awhile and zips off at 3:36. Pretty cool.

[@Eastsidet03]

Bruh that’s not a ufo it just looks like on his window 🤦‍♂️

[@butter7734]

@@Eastsidet03 you're looking at the video after the UFO. For most of the video there is a spot on the window but if you look at my time stamps it zips in so fast it looks like it just appears then it bounces around for a few seconds and then zips off just as fast as it appeared. It moves when the camera is still so impossible to be a dirty window.

[@butter7734]

@@Eastsidet03 play it at .25. As soon as he zooms in there isn't a spot, then appears out of nowhere.

[@Supermann64]

Amazing work,big thanks from Germany

[@MolisiDelmar]

Many thanks!

[@P-G-77]

Thanks for this fantastic video.

[@butter7734]

I really never thought of a volcano changing a barometer so much. Makes sense just never ever heard anyone speak on it.

[@wonlop469]

I believe the pressure waves that passed seemingly without sound, still produced sound. It was probably not at a frequency that we can hear, but he could probably feel it. Scary video. That could have turned into feet of pumice coming down.

[@MikeMoe710]

Wonderful documentation Thank You.

[@88997799]

Barometric pressure tells you the explosion is coming that was cool.

[@josephedwarddalelio5581]

At the 7:25, you show ~993mb at 7:38, ~1005mb. That is 12mb change, this equates to ~160db. At a frequency of ~0.04hz! The boom you heard was the masive volume of ash and steam accelerating beyond the speed of sound. Using the invers square law the volume at the source is ~207db! The sonic boom you heard was ~196db at the source. Estimates of Krakatoa are 310db.

[@88997799]

Knowing what happened in Pompeii and yet people just sit around listening. If it happens again like it did back then don’t act surprised.

[@susierider55]

Those pressure excursions were wild!

[@karlomoonblade]

is that a condensation caused by pressure waves at 5:32? holy f in just 5 secs

[@backpages1]

Any thoughts on the weird bird behavior?

[@MicahBBurke]

Brilliant record. Thanks.

[@MolisiDelmar]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@rps714]

Was there any warning the volcano was going to blow , like the day or days before it did?

[@armandomercado2248]

Thanks for sharing this.

[@HumanitarianV4VGlobal]

The clouds even started going in the opposite direction

[@vollxx4872]

very valuable video data

[@jeanettewest]

I was outside in Bethel, Alaska USA when I heard a distinct loud bang. While watching the news next day I found it was the volcano I heard.

[@paulknightley]

Very good documentation!

[@priscillaross-fox9407]

What an amazing video

[@123TauruZ321]

It's such a shame there are no live videos from the immediate eruption... that would be a sight .. it must have been an incredible explosion. But this is a good video.

[@PostmanBonz]

Check out the solar activity GOES and so forth just before and on this day?

[@SCPFoundationexplained2021D-2]

What?

[@cryptonite8495]

I wish the camera was on the other side of that tree line!

[@karlharvymarx2650]

I really like that you thought to show the barometric pressure, that was awesome. I'm guessing your microphone or my headphones just don't capture how loud the audible parts were. I'm in the Southeast US and heard some of the explosions. It wasn't loud enough to make me jump or anything but it was unusual enough to make me take notice. I didn't find out about the eruption until several hours later. Were there any injuries?

[@ironqueen_osrs]

Thank you! im amazed! and amazed that not more people have seen this

[@josephedwarddalelio5581]

The pressure changes were infrasound waves.

[@michaelmcconnell7302]

what an amazing perspective. what time was the main blast?

[@motomuso]

"... Multiple Data Point's" Just curious as to why we see so many plural words becoming possessive. For some reason everybody wants to add an apostrophe before every word ending in "s". I only want to know why this is happening. Anyone have any clue's?

[@lancetison5856]

wow, well done mate

[@jimmykreutz6087]

Interesting to watch how the screen in front of the camera vibrates 2:40 from the pressure waves

[@samjane6267]

To bad this wasn't filmed outside. That being said, this is reaally awesome

[@badgercdlyons]

This eruption was so powerful it created a new word: "observerbal".

[@sumdood7011]

Is that lightning flashes off In the distance When you zoom in at 3:37?

[@jamesmarckette9295]

Would you be will to gather and sell some pebbles and ash that fell that day ? I would be interested. Thank you.

[@babayagaslobbedaknobba]

This would've been terrifying to witness.

[@JamesHolben]

Kudos for not totally freaking out...

[@ajcinstalls]

Your window is face HTHH from where roughly??

[@josephastier7421]

The ash cloud is so huge you almost can't even observe it from the ground. It just covers the entire sky and gives no sense of scale.

[@1.4142]

Saw any lightning?

[@rm25088]

that is scary. You held your composure pretty good. Its really to bad, that is an island paradise. How bad did it get destroyed??

[@SCPFoundationexplained2021D-2]

The volcano literally blew itself apart.

[@SB-qm5wg]

I'd be scared of those booms.

[@OnTourWithGerrit]

I have a quite professional Waetherstation in Germany and Ukraine. I could record the pressure wave very good for even three times. Very interessting, how much energy has been released there.

[@weetme1613]

When I saw first video, I legit thought the camera glitching. Like some sort of game glitching bug. *Boy, I feel so wrong*

[@melodiefrances3898]

That must have been creepy af.

[@marlaguilmette5119]

I LOVE THE BATS!!!

[@jess500texas]

I read online that Krakatoa was actually bigger and louder than this. Human nature can be scary

[@morgancalvi6675]

The volcano eruptions started around December 15 or the 21st, 2021 and were almost daily until January 11th, when the country foolishly thought the eruptions were all over. Apparently it was the calm before the storm! Wait...where are all the lightening strikes???

[@MichaelPrince1954]

I actually heard the explosion on that day I was hanging the clothes out on the clothesline and I heard a a big explosion and I never heard nothing like that before.

[@AMDMAD1974]

Why you dont Take More Time on other Window? It was must better to saw the Sky and changes....

[@jocelynuy2922]

*a mass awakening plays*

[@dylinpaulbegay1315]

Did you notice that small dot in the top center in the clouds it's not a bird because for the most part it doesn't move. But the clouds pass right through it...

[@punkn]

I noticed that as well... but couldn't tell if it was some sort of artifact created by the camera (since learning that a camera can cause some pretty crazy effects on their own under the right conditions) or possibly an aircraft --- like a helicopter. Which isn't uncommon during an eruption when it's carrying scientists to study the event as closely as possible. However... there are more possibilities, some of which are --- how else can I say this --- out of THIS world...? Call me crazy (really, go ahead) but I've seen other eruption footage where you'll find UFOs/UAPs clearly unafraid of getting near the volcano; let alone being seen by the clueless masses living on the planet below. :alien:

[@Giantdwarf00]

It's a mark on the window or the netting. It's not a mark on the lens.

[@butter7734]

@@Giantdwarf00 nah it moves while he is still. He caught a UFO watching the eruption.

[@butter7734]

Watch that shit at.25 it just appears and then teleports to different spots and then zips away at ridiculous speed. Definitely a UFO.

[@butter7734]

Oh I was mistaken you are talking about after what I'm talking about. The UFO is at 3:22 - 3:36 slightly to the left towards the top of the screen. The one after yea is just a spot but before that 100% UFO

[@quentinstratton5407]

that is what possibly happens when a VEI 6 volcanic explosion happens in a few hours. i have never known that a volcanic eruptions can cause pressure waves!

[@Giantdwarf00]

Lots of eruptions can cause pressure waves. It's just this one caused pressure waves to circumnavigate the planet up to 5 times!! Massive!!

[@celticlass8573]

The pressure waves when Krakatoa erupted were measured in England, and the ash made their sunsets super red for a couple of weeks.

[@robertsydes9727]

Why are there no car alarms in Tonga?

[@MolisiDelmar]

Im not sure..maybe because its an island and everyone knows everyone. The last cars I heard getting stolen were the rental cars. Anyway we have roosters that's enough.

[@robertsydes9727]

@@MolisiDelmar If those weren't car alarms, what were they?

[@quentinstratton5407]

@@MolisiDelmar maybe its the birds

[@chartphred1]

Brilliantly captured. Having the foresight to do this in the first place is a really interesting, valuable and historical piece of work.

[@jamesbell8529]

Pont is too small.

[@denniss1211]

You need car alarms in Tonga? WOW

[@Lucifer-qt9gh]

Literally said there are no car alarms in tonga..those are house alarms dipshit

[@KaryShort-wi7kv]

Was never ever under any circumstances either ever anybody's fault that this happened to them!❤😂🎉😅😊🤝👼🏿😇👽👍🏿🙏🏿! 13:08