Tsunamis and shockwaves hit continents on the other side of the Pacific. The HungaTonga HungaHa'apai (HTHH) volcano was like a massive shotgun blast from the deep, generating the biggest atmospheric explosion recorded on Earth in more than 100 years.

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Funded by The Nippon Foundation, NIWA and SEAKIT surveyed over 22,000km2 surrounding the volcano, including mapping 14,000km2 of previously unmapped seafloor as part of The Nippon Foundation GEBCO Seabed 2030 project

New Zealand's National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) has discovered that almost 10km3 of seafloor was displaced – the equivalent to 2.6 million Olympicsized swimming pools and a third more than initial estimates – with two thirds coming from the summit and the rest from the surrounding flanks.
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Learn more about the survey and the The Nippon Foundation GEBCO Seabed 2030 project: https://niwa.co.nz/news/tongaeruptio...
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Filmed, edited and produced by Rebekah ParsonsKing.

Additional footage: Brendan Hall (University of Auckland), Siosaia Langilangi, Lt Holo Lakai, Officer Esafe Vuki, Terushi Sho, TVNZ via Getty Images, NEWSHUB Archives, Newsflare Ltd, Taaniela Kula, Pununu Tukuafu, Sally Watson.

Animations: NOAA/NASA, Simon Proud, Eric Jordan, Phillip Brandl, Lana Young, Stuart Mackay, Cyprien Bosserelle.

Music: Artlist: Life Force by Tristan Barton, Deep Blue Sea by Yehezkel Raz, The Racer by Tristan Barton, Autumn Mist by Nobou, Hourglass by Yehezkel Raz, Naski by Infinity.

SFX: Envato Elements