Report on Home Reef (Tonga) — 26 June-2 July 2024
Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 26 June-2 July 2024
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2024. Report on Home Reef (Tonga) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 26 June-2 July 2024. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
Home Reef
Tonga
18.992°S, 174.775°W; summit elev. -10 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
The Tonga Geological Services reported that an eruption at Home Reef was ongoing during 26 June-2 July. Daily thermal anomalies were identified in satellite images, though the number and intensity of the anomalies were variable. Continuous steam emissions were visible during 1-2 July, indicating ongoing activity. Lava effusion continued to expand the extent of the island, increasing from 8.9 hectares on 15 June to 11.7 hectares by 30 June. The Maritime Alert Level remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale) and mariners were advised to stay 4 km away from the island, the Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow (the second lowest color on a four-color scale), and the Alert level for residents of Vava’u and Ha’apai remained at Green (the lowest color on a four-color scale).
Geological Summary. Home Reef, a submarine volcano midway between Metis Shoal and Late Island in the central Tonga islands, was first reported active in the mid-19th century, when an ephemeral island formed. An eruption in 1984 produced a 12-km-high eruption plume, large amounts of floating pumice, and an ephemeral 500 x 1,500 m island, with cliffs 30-50 m high that enclosed a water-filled crater. In 2006 an island-forming eruption produced widespread dacitic pumice rafts that drifted as far as Australia. Another island was built during a September-October 2022 eruption.