Tongan Volcano Eruption Produces Record-breaking Lightning Bursts

Blue dots indicate nearly 200,000 lightning flashes which occurred during the Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption in January 2022. AGU/VAN EATON/GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS/SWNS

The Tongan volcano eruption produced the most intense burst of lightning ever recorded with 43 flashes per second.

When the Hunga volcano blew its top in January last year it was the largest eruption since Krakatoa in 1883.